Poly..fluoro...what? Why you need to know about PFAS.

Forever chemicals, new regulations, and how to avoid exposure.

AuthorAuthor

Lena Beck & Modern Farmer
June 02, 2024

Hello! Lena here, staff writer at Modern Farmer.

Late last year, we published two stories about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of chemicals used in commercial products that cause detrimental health effects. The first explained what PFAS are, and the second detailed some ways you can reduce your personal exposure to them. 

A theme emerged among commenters on these pieces on our website and social media: frustration that it’s up to us, individual consumers, to avoid PFAS exposure, as opposed to the job of our regulating bodies to protect us from them. I couldn’t agree more. 

Fortunately, in early April, the EPA released their first-ever regulations on a handful of PFAS — a good step toward protecting people at a large scale. I’m excited to bring you that story this week.

Still, as one of my expert sources emphasized, these regulations are not nearly enough. So for now, it is still necessary for individuals to protect themselves from PFAS. To help out, here is a guide for how conscientious shoppers can avoid PFAS. (I took this advice to heart and used it to buy a new PFAS-free hydration pack for running and hiking.)

We have a few more pieces of reporting on PFAS in the works, including a Q&A with Kyla Bennett, science policy director at PEER. I’d love your help coming up with questions for Kyla, so if there’s anything you want to know about PFAS, reply to this email and let me know what’s on your mind, then look out for that Q&A piece soon!

Of the thousands of "forever chemicals" out there, the Environmental Protection Agency just passed a drinking water standard for a small handful of them. Here’s what it means for you.

A person changing the filter on an ourdoor water filtration system.

Private wells will not automatically be tested for PFAS. Photo: Shutterstock

Also fresh this week

Stacks of frying pans for sale on a table with labels that say "no PFAS."

Photo: Robert Coolen | Shutterstock

How do you know if products are PFAS-free or not? Here’s our expert-informed guide to help you know what to look for.

A farmer steps down off a green John Deere tractor.

Photo: Matt Fitzgerald | Mad Agriculture

“It’s always us asking the question of what do we want to do? And then going out and trying desperately to find some money to offset the capital that it takes to run a farm.”

Community Action Corner

In the course of our reporting, we come across great pieces of actionable advice from our community. Each week, we are featuring an action you can take, or inquiry you can respond to, that will support a more equitable and resilient food system.

Weekly Action | Have lingering questions about "forever chemicals”? Email us your question for PFAS expert Kyla Bennett to [email protected] to help inform our reporting on the issue.

Hungry for more? Check out the Modern Farmer Solutions Hub for more actionable advice from experts. 

Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you next week!

~ LB

P.S.


If you made it this far, here's a picture of my new PFAS-free hydration pack. I found it on PFAS Central's list of trustworthy brands. Since I will be drinking water out of it regularly, I wanted to feel secure in knowing that it was safe.