In light of mankind’s current position, it is difficult to imagine a time when no synthetic chemicals existed. What started with groundbreaking discoveries of chemical elements in the 18th century quickly escalated into an unhealthy obsession with inventing new combinations.
As of 2023, 118 elements form a part of the famous periodic table. Contemporary chemistry has crossed the threshold of functionality and entered into disturbing grounds. One such case in point is that of the production of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS.
On the surface, it looks like a singular chemical compound. However, these are a complex group of over 12,000 chemicals mainly with strong carbon-fluorine bonds. These chemicals seldom fail to make it to the headlines (never for good reasons).
In this article, we will discuss the havoc PFAS have caused and whether there is a way to reverse the damage.
Why Were PFAS Produced?
As far as the chemistry is concerned, PFAS were first discovered back in the 1930s. From the commercial standpoint, the company 3M took the lead in manufacturing these chemicals, starting in the 1940s.
A major advantage of PFAS was that they naturally repelled water, oil, and grease. This is precisely why they became an important ingredient in the production of non-stick cookware and other waterproof coatings. These included clothes, carpets, packaging, etc.
Interestingly enough, the development of PFAS significantly rose by the 1960s following a deadly fire in the USS Forrestal. After this, these chemicals also became useful in putting out liquid-fuel fires of Class B. They were used to manufacture Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) and were a firefighting staple.
Health and Environmental Hazards
The manufacturers of PFAS (especially 3M) knew all along about the heavy price tag involved in the production of these chemicals. The human health risks and environmental repercussions were never hidden from them. As early as the mid-1960s, 3M’s technical manual considered the chemicals to be toxic.
To the general masses, the dangers associated with PFAS began surfacing decades later (sadly in the form of critical health issues). Given the small quantities used in kitchen utensils and other products, it was difficult to spot the culprit.
It was initially firefighters and military servicemen who suspected something fishy. These brave heroes had been ‘dealing with fire’ for so long, and many developed cancers of the bladder and testicles as a result. They decided to sue PFAS manufacturers, and a firefighting foam lawsuit was formed in 2017.
By 2018, there were enough cases to create a class-action multi-district litigation (MDL). As per TorHoerman Law, plaintiffs in this litigation were not just individuals with personal injuries. The other category was municipalities struggling to rectify the problem of severe water contamination.
Gradually, these chemicals were deemed carcinogenic and indestructible. In other words, PFAS do not break down and can remain indefinitely in the soil and human blood. Though the water contamination cases have received their legal justice, personal injury lawsuit resolution is still pending.
It is expected that Bellwether trials will begin in 2024. 3M has somewhat admitted its guilt by agreeing to stop all PFAS production by late 2025.
PFAS Now Impossible to Escape
Though 3M has promised to end PFAS production, this is hardly news to rejoice. The company and its contemporaries have already done irrevocable damage to human health and the environment. What’s worse is that the situation may stay the same for decades from now.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has at least 180 Superfund sites awaiting PFAS cleanup, and the Pentagon’s budget is falling short. At the current rate, it may take half a century before all locations are handled.
An even greater problem is the fact that PFAS may very well be ‘impossible to escape.’ The simple reason is their almost omnipresent existence. Experts believe that achieving a net zero PFAS concentration is an implausible endeavor.
Scientists have discovered these chemicals in almost half of the US tap water. Besides that, they are found in countless household products, from dental floss to an innocent sandwich wrap. Even the rainwater collected across all countries worldwide (Antarctica included) had traces of PFAS.
In the final analysis, it would be safe to assume that every human being alive today (even newborns) has PFAS in their bloodstream. This does not mean every individual would suffer from life-threatening conditions as a result.
As per the EPA’s Health Advisory, PFAS levels in drinking water must not exceed 70 parts per trillion. If the concentration is higher than this number, the individual is at risk of suffering the chemicals’ hazardous consequences.
This is especially true of two chemicals from the group – Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). In any case, the worldwide government decision to ban PFAS completely is the only sustainable option to preserve human and environmental health.