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A new chemical compound discovered in the 1950s called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, has quietly infiltrated nearly every corner of our lives. Marketed under the household name “Teflon,” PFAS at first seemed like a miracle invention – resistant to heat, stains, water, and even insects. It was the perfect coating for cookware, waterproof clothing, food packaging, and more. But over time, disturbing health effects have come to light.
When PFAS were first created, manufacturers like 3M and DuPont could not wait to find uses for these “forever chemicals” that never break down in the environment. They began producing massive quantities of PFAS compounds and incorporating them into consumer products without hesitation. Even when 3M studied the blood of its own employees and found high PFAS levels, the company ramped up production instead of sounding the alarm.
Today PFAS are truly ubiquitous. They have spread across the globe through air and water currents, accumulating in our blood faster than our bodies can eliminate them. PFAS are linked to cancer, high cholesterol, liver damage, and reduced fertility. The EPA warns that there is no known safe level of exposure. Yet avoiding PFAS entirely is nearly impossible when they lurk in everything from microwave popcorn bags to dental floss.
Particularly egregious is the contamination of drinking water sources near PFAS manufacturing plants. For example, residents of Oakdale, Minnesota unknowingly ingested PFAS for decades through their municipal water supply, drawn from a river where 3M dumped its waste chemicals. Only after years of soaring cancer rates did the truth come to light. Yet companies like 3M continue to produce similar “forever chemicals” even after specific compounds like PFOA were banned.
The shocking lack of ethics and utter disregard for public health displayed by PFAS manufacturers is appalling but not surprising. As with leaded gasoline, cigarette smoking, and other toxic profit-driven industries of the past, companies have repeatedly buried evidence and misled consumers about dangers. And the EPA continues to play catch-up, unable to ban entire classes of harmful chemicals.
Today, PFAS are so widespread that simply living exposes you to unhealthy levels. But holding corporations accountable and passing tougher environmental regulations can help turn the tide. Until then, we are all involuntary test subjects in a massive chemical experiment with devastating costs to human life.
Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best friends Jaron Myers and Tim Stone talk about random topics and have fun all along the way. If you like learning, and laughing a whole lot while you do, then you’ll love TILLN. Watch or listen to this episode today!
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