Federal regulators weigh compounds’ risks to consumers

head of the National Institute from industry and manufor Environmental Health Scifacturers that newer forms ences, told a recent gather- of PFAS in nonstick cookWASHINGTON — At first, ing of her agency’s advisory ware are safe.

Tomas Monarrez didn’t notice council. The other is eschewing the labels when he went shop“The carpets and the chairs food packaging as much as ping for pots and pans. and maybe the clothes you’re possible. In practice, that can

‘Completely toxin free!” wearing,” Birnbaum said. She require changing habits — said a big green message on noted she used to love the ritcutting your consumption of a line of nonstick frying pans ual of spraying Scotchgard on takeout and packaged food, in the cookware aisle at a newly bought tablecloths. No and committing to cooking store in the nation’s capital. more, she made clear. more at home, from scratch.

“No PFOA!” boasted the There are thousands of dif“Literature does suggest label on a 12-piece kitchen ferent versions of the com- that diet is a major route of set. “Will never release any pounds, including PFOA and exposure,” Trasande noted. toxic fumes,” another label another early version, both People also can contact promised. now phased out of production their local water utility to

“Oh, wow,” Monarrez, an in the U.S. PFAS are used in find out if their water syseconomist at a think tank, products including nonstick tem is one of those testing said, when asked if he had cookware, but also in stainwith higher levels of PFAS, ever heard of the toxic chem- and steam-resistant bags for Environmental Protection icals that manufacturers were microwave popcorn and many Agency spokeswoman Andrea declaring their products free other food containers and Drinkard said. of. packaging, shaving cream, Eating certified organic

“I didn’t know anything. dental floss, stain protection food can guard against PFAS Should I buy these?” Monar- for fabrics and rugs and outexposure from fields treated rez asked. “So all these are door garb — for starters. with treated human sewage bad? Federal studies of people sludge because federal rules

Federal regulators are sort- heavily exposed to the comprohibit use of the sludge ing out how to handle health pounds have found links on organically raised crops risks from a group of widely between high blood levels and livestock, environmenused nonstick and stain-re- of older kinds of PFAS and tal groups say. sistant compounds. But even a range of health problems, Older forms of the comreading labels may not be including liver issues, low pounds are known to build enough to guide consumers birth weights, and testicular up in people’s bodies for who want to limit their expo- and kidney cancer. High levyears. And the chemical sure to the manmade indus- els also have been found in bonds holding PFAS comtrial material, known as per- many drinking water systems. pounds together are among fluoroalkyl and polyfluoroMilitary installations that use the toughest going, so they alkyl substances, or PFAS. PFAS-laden firefighting foam are expected to take thou

Scientists say there are and businesses that work with sands of years to degrade. many steps people can take PFAS are two big sources of There’s no across the board to minimize their contact with water contamination. consensus on whether newer the compounds, which fedIt’s probably impossible versions of the thousands of eral toxicologists say show to avoid all exposures, says kinds of PFAS are safe. Induslinks to health problems. Leonardo Trasande, a chil- try says they are and that

Some changes are simple, dren’s environmental health there’s no reason to swear such as checking on the safety specialist and vice chair for off all nonstick cookware and of your drinking water or buyresearch at New York UniverPFAS-treated food packaging. ing different pots and pans. sity’s pediatrics department, “Consumers should have Others require spending and and a PFAS expert. confidence in the safety of lifestyle changes — for examBut there are “safe and sim- products manufactured with ple, passing up fast food or ple steps to limit exposure today’s PFAS because they other takeout because the based on what we know,” have been reviewed by regcontainers the food may be Trasande says. ulators globally and found to packaged in. Trasande himself recom- meet relevant standards that

For those concerned about mends two precautions. One are protective of health and exposure, there’s one critical is shunning nonstick cook- the environment,” Jessica thing to know about PFAS ware in favor of cast iron or Bowman, executive director compounds: “They’re everystainless steel, Trasande said. of the FluoroCouncil industry where,” Linda Birnbaum, That’s despite statements trade group, said in an email.