PFAS for dinner? Study of ‘forever chemicals’ build-up in cattle points to ways to reduce risks

By Antti Mikkonen and Mark Patrick Taylor | The Conversation | March 16, 2023

Read the full article by Antti Mikkonen and Mark Patrick Taylor (The Conversation)

"PFAS, known as “forever chemicals”, have been found just about everywhere on Earth, including in toilet paper.

These chemicals are a group of artificial compounds based on carbon and fluorine – per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. They comprise thousands of individual chemicals with hundreds of documented uses, including water proofing and fire suppression. It is likely every household has products or textiles that contain or were treated with a product that contained PFAS (including some non-stick cookware and stain-resistant fabrics).

Studies have shown most people have one or more PFAS compounds in their blood. We live in a world full of chemicals, so why do we care about these ones? Well, some PFAS have been associated with a wide range of adverse human health effects, such as cancer and immune problems. However, there is limited evidence of human disease resulting from environmental exposures."

This content provided by the PFAS Project.