Are PFOA (PFAS) chemicals in your everyday household items? If you say no, think again.
If you don’t know what PFOA is and why it is important continue reading this article. So, what is PFOA?
PFOA stands for perfluorooctanoic acid and is part of a man-made class of chemicals called perfluorinated compounds (PFCs). Perfluorooctanoate or PFOA is in most nonstick cooking and baking pans. PFOA and PFOS are the two PFAS that have been the most extensively produced and used over years.
PFAS can be found in household products, food packaging and water. They are found in several different aspects of someone’s daily life. For example, household products that when used or disposed of can lead to the exposure of PFAS.
Common products are non-stick cookware, stain-resistant apparel, textiles, leather or carpets and paper and/or packaging materials. PFAS are also found in food packaging and you can be exposed to small amounts by ingesting food that has been contaminated. Common food packaging items are packaged in material containing PFAS, processed with equipment that used PFAS and food grown in contaminated PFAS water or soil.
PFAS is widespread and global, most people around the world have detectable amounts of PFAS in their blood. PFOA and PFOS are no longer manufactured in the U.S. nevertheless they are still produced in other regions around the world and may continue to be imported into the U.S.
Health developments that can occur from exposure are: liver and thyroid disease, high cholesterol, impaired response to vaccines, asthma, lowered fertility rates and high blood pressure in pregnant women. Elevated risks of testicular and kidney cancer have been found in highly exposed people. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies PFOA, a heavily used and well-studied PFAS chemical, as a possible carcinogen for cancer.
Today, the EPA is now taking steps to regulate PFOA and PFOS, but it is still the job of the people to research and investigate what we buy for our homes and what we consume.
I think that PFOA chemicals should be recalled from being used by any company as they can cause serious health issues to an individual exposed.
If your cookware or household items contain any part of the PFAS family, it is up to you to determine if you are willing to throw away any items that can affect you and your family’s health.
