Forever Chemicals have been made out to be these scary cancer causing chemicals, but how much do we really need to worry about them? Today we’re going to get into the nitty gritty of Forever Chemicals. By the end of this read, we’ll be able to answer what Forever Chemicals are, the impact they may have on health, and whether we really have to worry about them. Let’s get into it!
Do I really need to give up the convenience of nonstick pans?
…I mumbled to myself after having a drawn out discussion with my mom who, like many mothers, was never shy to share her opinion.
I had been using nonstick pans for years before one visit from my mother and a few perfectly timed social media posts made me question everything. She noticed a few scratches on my nonstick pans and somehow that turned into a rant about me getting the big C (cancer) This was quickly followed up by perfectly timed post on my For You page warning me against using nonstick pans, and suggesting the often expensive, cumbersome alternatives of ceramics or cast iron pans.
I’ve heard buzz here and there about nonstick pans being worrisome, but mostly ignored it, choosing convenience over digging into the story, but after speaking to my mom and listening to a couple of influencers, I began thinking about it more.
We’ve been using nonstick pans for years now, what could be so bad about them? Do we really need to switch all of our pans?
A quick Google search told me the pan buzz has to do with something called Forever Chemicals.
In the last five to six years there’s been a slew of media coverage and regulatory challenges focused on Forever Chemicals. There’s been a lot of coverage focused on the addition of different Forever Chemicals to banned lists, and different industry cover ups of incorrect disposal of these chemicals being revealed. This has led to a renewed interest in this chemical group, reaching my mom and influencers alike, but what are Forever Chemicals, and what do they really have to do with my freaking pans??
What Are Forever Chemicals and Where Are They Found?
Forever Chemicals are a very large diverse family of thousands of synthetic chemicals1. Synthetic chemicals are man made chemicals rather than chemicals that we can easily find in nature.
Forever Chemicals are not a new phenomenon. In fact, these chemicals have been detectable in our environment since the 1940s1! They are mainly made up of chemicals called PFAs (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, if you want to get super sciency)1, and while we like to refer to them as Forever Chemicals, that’s not a completely accurate name.
These synthetic chemicals are specially designed to be extremely strong and hardy1. They’re made up of one of the strongest bonds in nature, making them very hard to destroy2. They can withstand extreme heats, repel oil, water, and grease, and can resist most forms of chemical or biological degradation1,2(6).
Since these chemicals are designed to be super strong, they don’t easily break down in nature or in our bodies. Different chemicals can last for different amounts of time, anywhere from a few days or decades, with some chemicals staying in our bodies for eight years1!
While these chemicals may not actually stick around forever, their sturdiness and slow breakdown time has led to them being colloquially known as Forever Chemicals, and for ease, we’ll continue to refer to them as such.
On top of their ability to stick around for years, there’s constantly new Forever Chemicals being made, which adds to the ones already in existence3,4,5. This combination of the slow breakdown period and introduction of new chemicals has led to the concern that too many chemicals may accumulate over time, and this accumulation could be bad.
Forever Chemicals can be found accumulating in both the environment–thanks pollution–and in our homes. In the environment, they can be found in air, water, fish and soil across the globe, and can spread through these sources6.
However, the amounts are relatively low, so no need for us to completely panic!
In our homes, they can be found in nonstick cookware– explains my mom’s pan fear,explains stain-resistant fabrics or furniture, waterproof fabrics (e.g., hiking boots), some personal care products and cosmetics (e.g., eye makeup, floss), and food packaging7,8.
They can be found in a pretty hefty list of things, making it a bit difficult to completely avoid these chemicals, but do we really need to?
How Do Forever Chemicals Affect the Body?
Forever Chemicals can be consumed while eating or drinking, or inhaled, and once in our bodies can be distributed into different organs and into our blood1. Their ability to be absorbed through the skin is limited, so it’s unlikely that they’d enter our bodies just by touching something1.
Once in our bodies these chemicals can potentially disrupt how cells work. They can do this because they look close enough to natural chemicals in our bodies to confuse our cells, leading to the cells acting in ways that may not be necessary3.
This disruption can then hurt our metabolism, our immune system, and our reproductive health9, 10. I want to emphasize that while these chemicals may affect these different parts of our bodies, this is a maybe.
Just because we’re exposed to these chemicals doesn’t mean they’ll immediately affect those areas. The effects the chemicals may have will depend on the type of chemicals– remember there’s thousands–and how much of the chemicals are there9.
Along with the systems in our bodies that can be affected, some research has also linked these chemicals to cancer– mostly in places where the drinking water is contaminated with high levels of Forever Chemicals.
However, other studies have not been able to prove that Forever Chemicals increase the risk of cancer, these mixed results in research is probably because the risk varies based on the type of Forever Chemicals and how much of the chemical is present11.
In small amounts we may not have to really have to worry about these chemicals, but what makes them a bit concerning is how long they stick around and how often we're exposed to them. Theoretically, even if our exposure is low, they can still add up in the body over time. They can be eliminated through urine and bowel movements, but the amount eliminated depends on the specific chemical and how long it takes for the body to break it down.
How Can We Avoid Forever Chemicals?
Regulatory bodies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the agency in charge of making sure our food and water isn’t contaminated, have been banning and attempting to regulate these Forever Chemicals, but they’re facing an uphill battle12,13. Companies can often make new chemicals to replace the banned ones, making it difficult to completely regulate them and guarantee their removal from our lives.
If we’re really concerned about Forever Chemicals and the risk they may pose, we may have to take avoiding them into our own hands. One of the big steps we can take is to avoid products that may have been made with them.
Some products suggested to avoid include8,14,15,16:
In Summary…
So, was my mom right to freak out over my scratched nonstick pans? Sort of.
When used properly, at normal cooking temperatures and before they get too scratched up, nonstick pans are considered safe. The bigger issue isn’t that one omelet is going to give you cancer, but that Forever Chemicals stick around in our environment and our bodies for years, and over time, repeated exposure can add up.
If we want to lower our exposure, we don’t have to throw out every pan in our kitchens. Instead, replace badly damaged ones and follow heating instructions. Pairing that with simple steps like filtering our drinking water and choosing fewer stain, or water resistant fabrics, can allow us to cut down our exposure without turning our lives upside down.
Convenience doesn’t have to be the enemy, but maybe my mom wasn’t entirely wrong either.
Written by: Nahdia Jones, PhD
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