PFAS and Your Health

You may not know what PFAS are, but odds are, they’re in your body. PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances ) are a large complex group of synthetic, man-made chemicals that have been used in everyday products since the 1940s. Everything from nonstick cookware and fast food wrappers to waterproof clothing, firefighting foam and lipsticks. Let’s explore why PFAS and your health are connected.

The nickname PFAS has earned is the “forever chemicals.” Why? Because they don’t break down in the environment or in your body. They’re incredibly persistent in the environment and can accumulate in humans and animals.

My daughter encouraged me to take on this subject of PFAS. In effort to raise consumer awareness because these chemicals are affecting people’s health. Most people are unaware. Not just about PFAS in our food and water; but also how the long-standing ostracism of hemp cultivation in the U.S. has hindered our ability to reduce PFAS in the environment.

Why Hemp? How Can Hemp Help?

Hemp can be grown to remediate contaminated soil. The hemp plant is also a powerful source of beneficial raw materials. It has a strong potential of creating products that are PFAS-free. Hemp can help in packaging materials and potentially as a barrier material. We’ll explore this in more detail.

⚠️ What Are PFAS, and Why Are They Dangerous – PFAS and Your Health

PFAS are widely used for their ability to resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. They are used in clothing, cookware, food packaging, textiles and other everyday items. Sounds like they could be of benefit – right? Unfortunately, they’re also:

• Persistent in the environment
• Bioaccumulative in humans and animals
• Linked to serious health problems

Here’s why PFAS and Your Health are connected.  PFAS chemicals build up in our bodies as we’re exposed to them. Like with most chemical exposure, they’re toxic and become harmful. According to the EPA and independent researchers, PFAS exposure has been associated with these health issues:

• Hormonal disruption
• Immune system suppression
• High cholesterol
• Certain cancers (e.g., kidney and testicular)
• Low birth weight and developmental issues
• Cancer in a first born child of a highly exposed mothers

PFAS and Your Health: Common Everyday Sources of PFAS

PFAS aren’t just in factories—they’re in our homes; our living rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens. PFAS have made their way into our bodies by foods prepared with certain brands of nonstick cookware, parchment paper, and non-stick kitchenware items. Other everyday sources of PFAS exposure you might not be aware of include:

• Dental Floss
• Band-aids
• Condoms
• Make-up
• Toilet paper
• Clothing
  • Luxury wear
  • Waterproof wear
  • Synthetic material like polyester
• Stain resistant furniture and carpets

You might also be exposed through contaminated drinking water

(At the end of this article is a link to a website GreenMatter .com with a comprehensive review of brands that offer more eco-friendly products for making informed decisions about the products you can buy that are PFAS-free.)

Our Foods and PFAS and Your Health

One of the most overlooked sources is our food—and not just processed food. It’s what foods are packaged and stored in. Containers and packaging materials that are made using PFAS. These chemical laced containers leach contaminates in our food. Then when eaten, the chemicals build up in our body.

Food Packaging and Agriculture is Impacting PFAS and Your Health

In 2020, the FDA launched a voluntary initiative asking manufacturers to phase out the use of certain PFAS in food packaging materials—specifically those used as grease-proofing agents. Items like:

• Microwave packaging specific to grease proofing
• Fast food wrapper
• Pizza boxes
• Microwave popcorn bags
• Take-out containers
• Pet food bags

This was an important step, but progress is slow. Some companies seek to produce goods as cheaply as possible. There are still products that test positive for containing PFAS.

On February 28, 2024, the FDA announced that food packaging containing grease-proofing agents made with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) would no longer be allowed to be sold or used in the United States. While this marks significant progress, it’s important to note that PFAS have not been banned from all food packaging.

Some PFAS are still permitted in cookware and food processing equipment. Additionally, several states have enacted their own PFAS bans or restrictions for food packaging, each with different timelines and coverage. While the federal effort is moving in the right direction, the fight against PFAS exposure is far from over.

• Packaged baked goods and takeout containers
• Produce grown with PFAS-contaminated water or sludge

Unfortunately, even organic food isn’t immune if it’s stored, transported, or served using PFAS-laced materials. When 100 % of tested breast milk samples contained PFAS in a 2021 study, the time to act now!

Hemp Seed Foods: A Clean Eating Ally and More

As a food source, hemp stand apart as a clean, minimally processed plant-based nutrition source—especially when sourced from trusted farms and brands that avoid PFAS exposure in packaging and processing.

Hemp seeds, hemp hearts and Hemp protein powder are an agricultural commodity that is naturally resistant to pests and grown without heavy chemical inputs. Their nutritional content being high in plant protein, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, magnesium, and zinc. This makes them an ideal addition to a clean eating plan aimed at reducing toxic exposure—while nourishing your body with real food.

Beyond food, hemp can help.

Hemp Seeds for Food

How the Hemp Plant Can Help

While the primary use of hemp in relation to PFAS is in providing remediation (cleaning up existing PFAS contamination) more research results are needed. What’s important to note, hemp cultivation had been outlawed for nearly 100 years in the United States, so “documented studies” are limited.  “Evidence” suggests it carries a potential as a viable raw material for PFAS-free products.

“Evidence” meaning, there are limited U.S. studies, but it doesn’t mean there are not studies. It’s documented that hemp cultivation has been around for over 2000 years. That’s a very long time.

A Touch of Hemp History

During the George Washington and Thomas Jefferson era; you would be fined if you did not grow hemp. That all changed in the United States in the 1930’s when hemp was turned into the devil-weed. Hemp was not only banned from being grown in the U.S; it was also banned from being studied or used for agricultural research in the U.S. Including studying the science of the nutritional benefits of hemp seed foods. Research on the raw materials the hemp plant could provide – all forbidden. Except for a brief period during WWII when hemp was used for the war efforts.

If Henry Ford and his crew of engineers could figure out how to make strong, resistant automobile panels from hemp in the 1940’s without the benefits of today’s technologies; we should definitely have the know-how available today. I want to trust there are some smart chemical engineers who can figure out a positive solutions to this problem. There are large deep-pocket corporations that have the financial capacity to take this task on in utilizing hemp as a viable source to help clean-up this PFAS mess.

Hemp for Remediation of PFAS and Your Health

Currently, when it comes to trying to clean our soil and water, hemp shows promise and is gaining significant attention.

• The focus is on remediation: The majority of the search results highlight the ability of hemp to absorb PFAS from the environment (phytoremediation). This means that plants grown for remediation might accumulate PFAS and would need to be handled and disposed of properly. In other applications, hemp has been found to decontaminate soil at a high rate and has been described as an excellent phytoremediative plant. Hemp’s ability to absorb these contaminants stems from its deep roots and quick growth, allowing it to take up and store toxic substances from the soil.
• Hemp does not eliminate PFAS: The primary issue with using hemp for PFAS remediation is that it doesn’t destroy the PFAS; it simply transfers it to the plant. Further processing is needed to break down the PFAS compounds.

Here’s How Industrial Hemp Can Play a Role in Creating PFAS-free Products:

Uses for Earth-Friendly Clean Packaging

• As an alternative material: Hemp’s versatility allows it to be processed into various materials, including paper, textiles, and building materials. This makes it a potential replacement for traditional materials that may contain PFAS.
• As a barrier/coating: Research has shown that hemp protein powder can effectively remove PFAS from contaminated groundwater, indicating its ability to interact with and bind to these chemicals. This suggests that hemp-based materials might be developed to create coatings or barriers that are naturally resistant to grease and water, without the need for PFAS.
• In packaging: The ability of hemp protein to remove PFAS hints at its potential use in food packaging materials, which are often treated with PFAS for grease and water resistance. Utilizing hemp in this capacity could lead to PFAS-free food packaging options.

PFAS and Your Health: What You Can Do

1. Choose PFAS-Free Products
   Look for brands that label their products “PFAS-free” or “non-toxic,” especially for cookware, food packaging, and textiles.
2. Filter Your Water
   Use a high-quality water filter certified to remove PFAS, especially if you live in a region known for contamination.
3. Eat Whole, Unprocessed Foods
   Reduce your reliance on packaged and fast foods. Prioritize fresh produce, whole grains, and clean protein sources like hemp seeds.
4. Avoid Nonstick and Stain-Resistant Products
   If it resists water, oil, or heat without effort—it might be PFAS-coated.

Can I remove PFAS from my body?