PFAS might be everywhere – including toilet paper – but let’s keep the health risks in context

By Mark Patrick Taylor | The Conversation | March 14, 2023

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

"The United States Environmental Protection Agency has announced new limits on the toxic “forever chemicals” – perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – in drinking water.

The announcement comes amid rising concern about PFAS, which persist in the environment, are ubiquitous and do not break down over time.

The carbon and fluorine PFAS compounds have been used in myriad domestic and industrial products from non-stick cookware to cosmetics to firefighting foams and fabric treatments. This week, a group of researchers said toilet paper should be considered a potential source (but more on that later).

Every household is more likely than not to have dusts containing PFAS chemicals at low concentrations; forming a route of exposure for the people living there. But how worried should we be about the risks to our personal health linked to these forever chemicals?"