Why PFAS are a problem!

Since the 1940s, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been used in the manufacturing of all sorts of consumer and industrial products. These chemicals are used for their resistance to grease, oil, water, and heat. They’re known as “forever chemicals” because they accumulate in the environment and in our bodies, and don’t degrade over time. They’re also linked to cancer, birth defects, thyroid issues, weakened immune systems in children, and other serious health concerns.

Over the last 10 years or so, PFAS have been detected in the water supply in more and more cities and towns across the United States, creating the potential for entire communities to be poisoned. These cities and towns are often located near manufacturing plants that are likely causing PFAS contamination of groundwater.

While use of dangerous PFAS in manufacturing has mostly been phased out in the United States, it does still rear its ugly head. They’re still commonly found in cosmetic products like mascara, foundations, lipsticks, and eyeshadows, where they’re used for their long-lasting and wear-resistant properties. But even low, nearly undetectable levels of PFAS are dangerous and can be absorbed through skin and tear ducts or ingested.

Look out for these common ingredients in your cosmetics:

☠️hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid and its ammonium salt (HFPO-DA – sometimes referred to as GenX chemicals)

☠️perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS).