Aussies keeping an eye on the news might have heard the term 'forever chemicals' at some point.

While these mysterious substances have been afloat lately, Aussies are wondering if everyone should be worried about them.

What are these 'forever chemicals'?

Forever chemicals have been the moniker for PFAS, or per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances!

While the name may be a mouthful, these are synthetic chemicals used in a wide range of products since the 1950s.

They're used for fashion, cookware, home products, food packaging, and even cosmetics.

Plastic bottles are one of the common sources of these forever chemicals. Image Credit: Pexels/Magda Ehlers

These chemicals are heat, water, grease, and stain-resistant, making them useful in everyday life.

However, as their name states, these chemicals do not break down easily in the environment or in people's bodies.

Where do PFAS come from?

PFAS can enter bodies in a few ways:

• Food and water: This happens when food is packaged in PFAS-treated material or if drinking water is affected by industrial runoff.
• Household products: Non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, and some cleaning products can all be sources of PFAS.
• Occupational exposure: Firefighters have historically been exposed to high levels of PFAS through firefighting foams.

How common are PFAS in Australia?

'I'm afraid every person in Australia has PFAS levels in their body,' Professor Peter Sly from the Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute recently told a federal inquiry.

'It's a matter of how high they are.'

To back Professor Sly's claim, recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) stated that over 85 per cent of Australians tested had at least three types of PFAS in their blood.

While researchers can currently test for about 40 different types, more than 15,000 known PFAS compounds exist out there.

What do we know about the health risks?

While some studies linked higher PFAS levels to health issues like increased cholesterol, immune system effects, and certain types of cancer, the evidence hasn't been consistent.

The long-term effects of low-level exposure are still unclear, and more research is needed.

Professor Martyn Kirk from the Australian National University pointed out that people still have 'blind spots' when it comes to PFAS, including:

• The long-term health impacts of low exposure
• The effects on people with very high exposure (like firefighters)
• The primary sources of exposure in our homes
• The best ways to reduce PFAS in our bodies

Can Aussies reduce PFAS levels in their body?

A world-first Australian study in 2022 found that donating blood or plasma could lower PFAS levels in the body.

The study looked at 285 firefighters and found that:

• Donating blood every 12 weeks reduced PFAS levels by about 10 per cent
• Donating plasma every 6 weeks could also lower PFAS levels by about 30 per cent

PFAS are often carried in the blood, so removing some blood or plasma could get rid of the chemicals.

Other studies also found that PFAS levels in women are lower due to their menstruation cycle.

However, researchers cautioned that there are no apparent benefits yet from lowering PFAS levels this way.

Hence, more research may be conducted to understand the implications.

Learn more about PFAS contamination and how it's affecting Australia's food sector:

Source: ABC News Australia/YouTube​

What's being done about PFAS in Australia?

Companies across Australia have started phasing out some PFAS since the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Since then, PFAS levels in Australians' blood have dropped by nearly tenfold since 2000.

However, PFAS are still out there, and some communities are worried about ongoing contamination and possible health effects.

What can you do to limit your exposure?

While it's impossible to avoid PFAS altogether, you can take a few steps to reduce your exposure:

• Choose PFAS-free products: Look for cookware, clothing, and food packaging labelled as PFAS-free.
• Avoid stain-resistant treatments: Skip carpets and furniture that have been treated to resist stains.
• Be cautious with non-stick cookware: If your pans are scratched or worn, consider replacing them with stainless steel or cast iron.
• Check your local water quality: If you live near a known contamination site, consider using a water filter that removes PFAS.

Key Takeaways

• Most Australians have some level of 'forever chemicals' in their bodies, but there are still significant gaps on how these chemicals affect people's health.
• Blood and plasma donation could significantly reduce PFAS levels in the body, though the long-term health benefits of this reduction remain unclear.
• Scientists called for more research to understand better sources of PFAS exposure, long-term health impacts, and ways to reduce these chemicals.
• While PFAS levels in Australians have dropped markedly since the early 2000s, concerns remain for highly exposed groups, highlighting the need for clear information and good policy decisions.

Have you heard about 'forever chemicals' before? Are you concerned about PFAS in your home or community? Have you taken any steps to reduce your exposure? We would love to hear your thoughts and experiences with these chemicals, and how to lessen exposure to them in the comments section below.

MORE NEWS: New Australian data shows most of us have PFAS in our blood. How worried should we be?

 

[7777]

We are fortunate to be notified about PFAS by SDC, but how are people who don't speak the English language going to protect themselves from the dangers of PFAS, when they are not aware of this information. More needs to be made aware to people of all ethnicity, by the department of health, so that everyone can do their best to stay safe from everyday PFAS toxic made products.

 

[Giannidifirenze]

It should be mandatory that schools across Australia have 2/2h (or equivalent) English Learning classes per week for adults and non -English speaking migrants after normal school hours.
A set course with a course workbook for week by week completion by students.

 

[glennkidd]

Also there is far too much DiHydrogenMonoxide in the environment.

 

[Squizzy1]

Only ever use SS, not aluminium either, I would like there to be a check on all the drinking bottles sold in stores as well.

 

[Veggiepatch]

Also there is far too much DiHydrogenMonoxide in the environment.

Did you know that dihydrogen monoxide vapour is a "greenhouse gas"?

It is also the most abundant.

It has been estimated if you removed all the water vapour from the earth's atmosphere, the surface temperature would drop by an average of 33 degrees Celsius, according to NASA.

 

[glennkidd]

Did you know that dihydrogen monoxide vapour is a "greenhouse gas"?

It is also the most abundant.

It has been estimated if you removed all the water vapour from the earth's atmosphere, the surface temperature would drop by an average of 33 degrees Celsius, according to NASA.

Scary, huh?
And no one seems to care about this "pollutant".
Only the vital plant food "pollutant" CO2.
Amazing, yeah?

 

[Veggiepatch]

The study looked at 285 firefighters and found that:

• Donating blood every 12 weeks reduced PFAS levels by about 10 per cent
• Donating plasma every 6 weeks could also lower PFAS levels by about 30 per cent

Great idea!

The recipients of donated blood and plasma receive elevated serum levels of "forever chemicals", which are not forever at all!

All serum PFAS concentrations declined over time. As expected, the half-lives of long-chain PFAS were longer than those of short-chain compounds, reaching almost 3 years in some cases. For example, the researchers estimated the average half-lives for PFHxS at 2.86 years and L-PFOS (a specific form of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, C8) at 2.91 years. In comparison, the short-chain PFPeS had an estimated average half-life of 0.63 years, and perfluoroheptane sulfonic acid (PFHpS, C7) concentrations were 1.46 years. The shortest estimated half-lives were for perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA, C4) at 0.12 years and perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA, C7) at 0.17 years.

The media and unqualified kneejerk reactionaries are to blame for this misinformation surrounding the fake "forever" chemicals.

Breaking It Down: Estimating Short-Chain PFAS Half-Lives in a Human Population - PMC

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[glennkidd]

Wife and I used to donate Plasma EVERY 2 weeks at our local Blood donation centre in our local Hospital.....
until it was shut down! ( The blood donation centre, not the hospital)
It was always busy, too.
So much for the urgent need for blood donations, huh?

 

[relljube]

Yet another "forever" something - time to find another buzz word. We have a forever home, forever pet, forever partner, now forever chemicals - did everyone lose their Webster or Oxford dictionaries or thesaurus?

 

[DLHM]

It should be mandatory that schools across Australia have 2/2h (or equivalent) English Learning classes per week for adults and non -English speaking migrants after normal school hours.
A set course with a course workbook for week by week completion by students.

Good idea, but who will be responsible for the cost of these courses, workbooks and teachers?

 

[Giannidifirenze]

Good idea, but who will be responsible for the cost of these courses, workbooks and teachers?

Bill Shorten will know.