Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Products
Even cookware, clothing and make-up – have ‘forever chemicals.’ Can we reduce our exposure?
Allan Maynard, MSc. – November 2025
I wrote a series of articles in 2022 about toxic chemicals in the environment (see link below). Despite more research and some regulatory initiatives, the human population around the world is still exposed in many unnecessary ways. This is an update on the most worrisome class of chemicals – called “forever chemicals” (PFAS), because they take decades or even centuries to break down. A such, it is a class of chemicals that should have been heavily regulated decades ago. Even more egregious, the current US administration is proposing to loosen PFAS regulatory requirements and even expand their use on crops.
REMINDER – WHAT ARE FOREVER CHEMICALS (PFAS)?
Approximately 350,000 man-made chemicals are currently on the global market, including plastics, pesticides, and industrial chemicals with about 2,500 new chemicals, introduced each year. Thousands have not been properly evaluated.
This vast array of chemicals is divided into various classes – one such class is– PFAS – which stands for – get ready now – per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances. It is an umbrella term for a family of over 12,000 chemicals that, due to a very strong bond between carbon and fluorine, are prized for their indestructible and non-stick properties. The exact number of PFAS is not really known as hundreds of so called ‘byproducts” are created in the manufacturing processes.
Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Products
Click image to enlarge.
WHAT PRODUCTS CONTAIN FOREVER CHEMICALS (PFAS)?
PFAS can be found in non-stick cookware (frying pans, air fryers, rice cookers), parchment paper, fire retardants, stain and water repellents, furniture (as a fire retardant), waterproof clothing and shoes, children’s clothing, takeout food containers, food packaging, carpets and textiles, tents, yoga mats, rubbers and plastics, electronics, dental floss and even make up – such as lip gloss and mascara. This is a long list – and it worth asking – are many or even most uses necessary? I would say a resounding – NO!!
Also sprayed on crops: There are over 60 PFAS registered as active pesticide ingredients permitted in the U.S. for use to kill fungi, insects or weeds. PFAS can also be found in pesticides as inert, or inactive, ingredients, which means they don’t address pests directly but can enhance how well a pesticide works. Unfortunately, manufacturers in the USA aren’t required to disclose individual inert PFAS in their products. PFAS are more stringently regulated in Europe. Canada has a planned phaseout of PFAS, but it will take years to be fully implemented.
WHERE ARE FOREVER CHEMICALS (PFAS) FOUND IN THE ENVIRONMENT?
The answer is everywhere – even in remote locations:
- Water: Found in drinking water sources, surface water, oceans, and groundwater.
- Air: Can be present in gaseous form or attached to particles and aerosols, which can travel long distances.
- Food: especially in fruits and vegetables that have been sprayed with PFAS pesticides – and also in meat, fish and processed food from packaging.
- Soil and sediment: Contamination occurs through sources like landfill runoff, contaminated soil, or direct discharge.
- Biota – due to bioaccumulation
WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS ON HUMAN HEALTH?
The answer? We just don’t know! The recoded cases of illness from exposure to PFAS is associated with the manufacturing process affecting people working in or living near, the factories. As an example, starting in 1998, multiple lawsuits were filed in US courts against DuPont in relation to C8 or PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), a specific PFAS, used to produce Teflon. Local farmers, residents and company workers claimed illnesses and livestock mortalities linked to pollution from DuPont’s Parkersburg plant in West Virginia. Intense monitoring studies found that residents who drank water from wells near the plant, had a median level of PFOA, 7.6 times more than the average American. In 2012, a science panel concluded (from these studies) a “probable link” existed between C8 and six diseases: kidney cancer, testicular cancer, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, pregnancy-induced hypertension and high cholesterol. Since then, there have been numerous individual lawsuits with DuPont settling over 3,550 of these for 671 million dollars.
In terms of day-to-day exposure from air, water and food, there is no clear answer to the question of long-term human health. What is known though, every human on the planet has detectable levels of PFAS in their blood.
WHY TAKE THE CHANCE? CAN WE REDUCE OUR EXPOSURE?
The simple answer – YES – by researching before buying cookware, clothing, furniture, cosmetics, etc. Do we really need waterproof jackets? Is it necessary to cook with a non-stick pan? Do our couches need to be stain-resistant and fireproofed?
• Use safer cookware: Swap nonstick pans for stainless steel, cast iron, glass, or ceramic alternatives. The same goes for air-fryers and parchment paper. Teflon pans can be especially concerning if they get heated too high or if they are scraped (as bits of coating will get in your food). A good cast iron skillet and some stainless-steel pots is all you need.
• Use glass for storing food: – even sandwich bags may contain PFAS.
• Filter tap water: Use a pitcher, faucet, or under-sink filter certified to remove PFAS, or a reverse osmosis system. PFAS have even been found in rainwater.
• Limit takeout and packaged foods: It is especially important to not heat food in plastic, grease resistant containers. For sure – I would avoid buying heated food that is stored in plastic – such as rotisserie chicken for sale in most grocery stores.
• Rethink microwave popcorn: Make popcorn on the stovetop instead of using microwave bags, which likely contain PFAS.
• Avoid certain fish: Limit consumption of locally caught freshwater fish, as they can accumulate PFAS.
• Choose non-treated textiles: Look for clothing, carpets, and upholstery that are NOT labeled “stain-resistant” or “water-resistant”. There is mounting evidence that we are breathing in PFAS from such products.
• Clean regularly: Damp dust surfaces with a microfiber cloth and vacuum weekly with a HEPA-filter vacuum to reduce the amount of PFAS dust in your home.
• Check labels: Look for “fluoro” or “perfluoro” on product labels, which indicates the presence of PFAS. Some products may use other PFAS, so be mindful of this.
• Limit cosmetics: Eliminate the use of cosmetics and personal care products that contain PFAS.
• Buy organic foods – this is much harder due to affordability – but it is very concerning that PFAS are used to spray crops.
There is a wealth of information on the internet if consumers want to research prior to buying. However, the challenge with all this, is the lack of forced (or regulated) disclosure from manufacturers of the products we buy and the producers of the food we consume. This needs to be addressed at the policy level – and I am not confident that this issue will be properly addressed when the industry lobby has an untoward sway over the political process.
https://www.environmentmatters.ca/a-daily-dose-of-chemical-exposure/
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/18/california-pfas-forever-chemicals