12 household products that contain toxic PFAS — how to protect against ‘forever chemicals’

The toxic chemicals known as PFAS are lurking in your house right now — and you’re probably inviting more of them in every day.

PFAS, short for per- and polyfluorinated substances, are present in a wide range of everyday items found in most households.

The chemicals — frequently referred to as “forever chemicals” due to their surprising persistence in the environment, and in animal and human bodies — have been used for decades in manufacturing to make products that are water-resistant, non-stick and fire-retardant, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

But PFAS are a concern because research has suggested that they may lead to disorders like cancer, thyroid disease, liver damage, fertility problems, increased cholesterol levels, obesity and hormonal disorders

The following are just a few of the items that are manufactured with PFAS:

• Cell phones and home electronics
• Water-resistant fabrics in rain jackets and umbrellas
• Contact lenses
• Paint
• Upholstered furniture, carpets and carpet pads
• Dental floss
• Toilet paper
• Nail polish, makeup and shampoo
• Cleaning products
• Nonstick cookware

They are even present in the tap water in about 45% of U.S. homes, regardless of whether they use public water supplies or private wells.

PFAS in food packaging

One of the most common sources of PFAS exposure is food packaging, where it’s used to make the packaging heat-, grease- and water-resistant.

PFAS in nonstick pans have received extensive media scrutiny, but PFAS in food packaging have seen far less interest — even though PFAS molecules are more loosely attached to food packaging than to metal cookware and can therefore leach into food more easily, according to a report by environmental and health project Foodprint.

“We know that these substances migrate into food you eat,” Justin Boucher, an environmental engineer at the Swiss nonprofit research organization Food Packaging Forum, told Consumer Reports.

“It’s clear, direct exposure,” he said. And that exposure is especially likely when food is fatty, salty or acidic, according to a 2021 review in the journal Foods.

Government action on PFAS

Governments worldwide have taken steps to reduce or eliminate PFAS in industrial and household products, and in the U.S., state officials have taken the lead in phasing out PFAS.

New York, for example, in section 37-0203 of the Environmental Conservation Law, states that “no person shall distribute, sell, or offer for sale in this state food packaging containing PFAS substances as intentionally added chemicals on or after December 31, 2022,” according to the NY Department of Environmental Conservation.

California, too, has passed far-reaching legislation that bans the sale of cosmetics containing PFAS, phasing out their use in textiles and mandating PFAS disclosure for all products and ingredients entering the state.

The Golden State has also dedicated resources to monitor PFAS in waterways, focusing on communities that are near manufacturing and waste disposal sites.

How to avoid PFAS

There are simple steps you can take to limit your exposure to PFAS.

Removing food from fast-food containers, for example, and reheating food only in ceramic or glass reduces your exposure, according to Consumer Reports.

Soil that has PFAS can come into your home from the outside, and dust also can have PFAS from common household products. Vacuums using a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter reduce the amount of dirt and dust in your house, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Some organizations provide guides to PFAS-free products, including the Environmental Working Group, the Center for Environmental Health, the EPA and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

However, experts know that some “forever chemicals” will be around, well, forever.

“They are going to be with us as a legacy,” Scott Belcher, associate professor of biological sciences at North Carolina State University, told TIME last spring.

“This entire class of chemicals is probably the most persistent class of manmade chemicals that have ever been made,” said Belcher. “Once they’re there, they’re not going away.”