Is Your Water Safe to Drink?
Are you concerned about the health of your water? There has been a lot of chatter in my neighborhood recently after an article was published in The Guardian about our local water source being contaminated with PFAS.
So, let’s talk contaminants. There are thousands of contaminants found in drinking water - under 200 are regulated (poorly), and the rest aren't regulated at all (like PFAS).⠀
The Dirty on PFAS
Considered the “Forever Chemical”, because once this class of chemicals is released into the environment, they don’t break down; once ingested, they can build up in our blood and organs. They just accumulate and accumulate – doing more and more damage, minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day.
Aside from the fact that PFAS are slowly killing us off by attacking our reproductive health (sperm counts have dropped almost 60% since 1973 and are on trajectory to zero before 2050), you may be interested to learn that they also may also increase the severity of COVID-19 and reduce the effectiveness of vaccines (read more). Exposure to PFAS increases the risk of many other health issues.
How Do I Avoid PFAS?
Certain high-quality water filters will remove these chemicals, but the one in built into your refrigerator won’t cut it. Nor will your Brita.
There isn’t one perfect filter for everyone, but there are several great options depending on the contaminants in your water, your budget, and your current living situation. Check out this report: Best Home Water Filters for Toxic PFAS “Forever Chemical” Filtration
How Do I Know What’s In My Water?
Get your water tested so you know exactly what chemicals you need your filter to target. Lara Adler, my trusted source, recommends My Tap Score, because of the breadth of what they test and the rigor of science they use. Here’s the link to the PFAS test. Use promo code LARA11 to get 10% off your first order. (I don’t get any perks for suggesting this or you clicking the links)
How Can I Protect Myself?
Truth is, PFAS have been found in literally every corner of the globe. We are all exposed and they do not ever go away. We can’t cleanse these toxins, but we can reduce further exposure. While it’s important to filter our water, we also need to reduce PFAS exposure from other common sources.
PFAS are in:
Personal care products - Personal care (sunscreen, shampoo, shaving cream) and cosmetic labels list the ingredients in them in descending order of predominance, and often include PFAS chemicals such as PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), perfluorooctyl triethoxysilane, perfluorononyl dimethicone, perfluorodecalin and perfluorohexane. Shop safer skin care.
Non-stick cookware - PFAS are the chemical with the brand name “Teflon”. Beware of any non-stick pans, including ones marketed to be safer.
Stain resistant furniture and carpet treated with Scotchguard, Stainmaster, and other fabric treatments.
Paper/paperboard food packaging: PFAS may be used as grease-proofing agents in fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, take-out paperboard containers, and pet food bags to prevent oil and grease from foods from leaking through the packaging.
Outdoor clothing labeled stain- or water-repellant, such as Gore-Tex, usually contain PFAS chemicals.
Take an inventory of what’s in your home, not just in your water. Need help switching to safer? See my list of safer resources here.