environmental Strategist, between the lines: Introduction to PFAS. If you are not familiar with Per- and polyfluoroalkyl Substance or PFAS you need to be and after you read this competitive environmental intelligence you will understand why.
Due to PFAS pollution, environmental laws are changing.
PFA’s are used for their resistance to heat, water, oil and grease. PFAS are a group of human-made chemicals that includes PFOA, PFOS, GenX, and many other chemicals. PFAS have been manufactured and used in a variety of industries around the globe, including in the United States since the 1940s and contaminate soil, ground water, surface water and the air. PFAS can resist degradation in the environment and bio-accumulate; meaning that they are persistent in the environment and tend to concentrate in blood and organs over time in biological species. People can be exposed to these chemicals in house dust, indoor and outdoor air, food, and drinking water. Exposure to certain PFAS chemicals has ties to cancer, ulcerative colitis in adults and thyroid disease in children, among other health problems.
PFAS besides being used in Oral B Glide dental floss, can also be found in:
• Food packaged in PFAS-containing materials, processed with equipment that used PFAS, or grown in PFAS-contaminated soil or water.
• Commercial / household products, including stain- and water-repellent fabrics, carpets, upholstery, soap, shampoo, clothing, leather, nonstick products (e.g., Teflon), pizza boxes, fast food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, polishes, waxes, cleaning supplies, paints, textiles, paper & packaging materials, cleaning products, and fire-fighting foams (a major source of groundwater contamination at airports and military bases where firefighting training occurs).
• Workplace, including production facilities or industries (e.g., chrome plating, electronics manufacturing or oil recovery) that use PFAS.
• Drinking water, typically localized and associated with a specific facility (e.g., manufacturer, landfill, wastewater treatment plant, firefighter training facility).
• Living organisms, including fish, animals and humans, where PFAS can build up and persist over time.
For more information and articles on PFAS refer to the following links:
EPA website: https://www.epa.gov/pfas
Where is PFAS Pollution Found in the U.S.? https://www.phly.com/rms/blog/PFAS.aspx
Dental floss: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/01/09/oral-b-glide-floss-toxic-pfas-chemicals-study/2530661002/
Oscoda School water contaminated with PFAS: https://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2018/08/oscoda_schools_pfas.html
Fire Fighting Foam: https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local/dayton-suing-firefighting-foam-makers-after-water-safety-worries/iGcb3BiwcvgYfe0m5OjarL/
https://theintercept.com/2018/02/10/firefighting-foam-afff-pfos-pfoa-epa/
Wisconsin Takes First Steps To Shield Tax Payers From PFAS: https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/wisconsin-takes-first-step-to-shield-taxpayers-from-toxic-cleanup/article_e40ea686-11ff-5db3-af44-0d020f30a5da.html
How do professional carpet cleaners dispose of their water that contains PFAS extracted from the carpet? What about carpet cleaners the people rent? http://ecologywa.blogspot.com/2011/11/when-carpet-cleaning-where-should-wash.html