In 2019 the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) had officially confirmed the detection of PFAs, also known as Forever Chemicals because of how long these chemicals take to break down, in our nation’s food supply. “PFAS is a family of nearly 5,000 synthetic chemicals that are extremely persistent in the environment and in our bodies. PFAS is short for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances and includes chemicals known as PFOS, PFOA and GenX” This chemical has been known to cause serious health problems like liver damage, thyroid disease, decreased fertility, high cholesterol, obesity, hormone suppression and cancer and was proven through a study in 2007 by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that PFAs is likely in 98% of America’s population. But how did this chemical spread to almost all of America? Unfortunately, due to the nature of the chemical process, PFAs became airborne, found ways into the water system, and is/was used in many water and oil repellent products such as non-stick cookware, which in turn creates a cycle that affects all of us. One incident that shows how forever chemicals find their way into our systems was by the FDA testing water at a dairy farm that was near an US Air Force Base. US Air force bases utilize firefighting foams that contain PFAs for their insulating abilities. “According to the FDA, area water samples tested 35 times greater than the current US Environmental Protection Agency health advisory of 70 parts per trillion.” After this horrifying discovery, 13 samples were tested from the farm such as the water, feed for the animals, and 5 milk samples. The result, all samples from the dairy farm had levels of PFAs so detectable that the samples were, “determined to be a human health concern and all milk from the farm was discarded,” and that test was from only one of millions of farms in America that we depend on for food.
“Images of the FDA’s presentation at the meeting were first obtained by the advocacy group Environmental Defense Fund and published by the Environmental Working Group. The agency confirmed that the images were produced by the FDA. The findings are now being presented on a newly updated FDA website about PFAS that is to be released this week. The FDA provided CNN with an advance copy of the website text.
“…due to potential health concerns related to these chemicals,
the FDA is working to better understand the potential dietary
exposure to PFAS”
the website will say.”
Back to the dairy farm incident, according to the FDA, although the cows are no longer eating and drinking containment feed and water, these forever chemicals will still remain in the cow for a while. In fact, for a cow, 30 days exposed to PFAS ridden food and water will equate to about one and a half years of FDAs remaining in their system.
“The FDA also analyzed produce samples from farms close to a PFAS manufacturing plant. The produce was sold at local farmer’s markets. According to the FDA, area water wells are known to be contaminated with the PFAS known as GenX. Of the 20 produce samples tested, 16 were leafy greens such as lettuce, cabbage, kale and collard greens. Among those, 15 showed detectable levels of PFAS.”
According to the FDA, the samples tested were no longer a health concern for humans, however I’m sure we would still rather not have any levels of PFAs in or produce. As part of the FDA’s Total Diet Study in 2017 that monitors around 800 contaminates and nutrients in the average American’s diet, 91 samples of food was also tested for PFAs contamination levels which according to CNN, 10 out of the 91 samples had detectable levels of PFAs, and those samples were deemed to not be a health concern for humans.
“PFOS was voluntarily phased out of production in the United States by 3M, its main manufacturer, starting in 2000. In 2006, PFOA began to be phased out as well. PFOA and PFOS are no longer manufactured or imported in the United States, but similar replacement chemicals like GenX remain. In April of this year, the EPA announced a new PFAS plan, which included setting a maximum containment level for PFOS and PFOA.”
Kounang, Nadia. “FDA Confirms Pfas Chemicals Are in the US Food Supply.” CNN, Cable News Network, 3 June 2019, https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/03/health/pfas-food-supply-fda/index.html.
