Are you eating ‘forever chemicals’?

‘Forever chemicals’ have been found in everything from drinking water and biodegradable food packaging to fresh, locally grown vegetables in Australia. So should you be worried? Health writer Karen Fittall investigates.

Data about the presence of ‘forever chemicals’ in peoples’ bodies was this year released by Australian Bureau of Statistics for the very first time. It revealed that nearly nine out of 10 Australians aged 12 years and over have them circulating in their blood, albeit at lower levels than people living in many other countries. So, what are ‘forever chemicals’? Why do most of us have them in our systems? And now that we do, could they be causing us harm? Here’s what you need to know.

Why are they called forever chemicals? And what exactly are they?

Technically known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, they’re a group of nearly 15,000 human-made chemicals that have been used in anti-stain and anti-stick treatments. They’ve been used on non-stick cookware, as well as in insecticides and firefighting foams, since the 1970s. They’re used in cosmetics, dental floss, waterproof clothing and, more recently, sustainable food packaging.

They’re labelled with the ‘forever’ tag because they don’t break down easily in the environment and, over time, also tend to build up in the bodies of living things – including us.

Why are they (probably) in your bloodstream?

That’s a good question. PFAS can end up in our sources of drinking water when products that contain them are used on land and are eventually washed into waterways to infiltrate groundwater, or when PFAS get flushed down the drain. While recent research shows New Zealand’s drinking water supply is largely free from elevated levels of PFAS, last year a UNSW Sydney-led study found there were too-high levels of PFAS in some of Australia’s drinking water sources. While the water goes through treatment plants, some standard treatment technologies may not be effective at removing common PFAS. In addition to food grown using PFAS-contaminated groundwater, forever chemicals have other inroads. A 2024 study of 17 common PFAS showed, for the first time, that they can permeate the skin’s barrier to reach the bloodstream that way. And a 2023 study suggests that some food packaging, even some marketed as being compostable, contains PFAS that can potentially contaminate the food it contains. In fact, several states, territories and individual councils around Australia have now banned fibrebased food packaging from green organics bins, in part as a way to lower the risk of PFAS ending up in compost that’s then used to grow food.

So, what’s the harm?

Some studies suggest there’s a link between exposure to certain levels of PFAS and a long list of worrying health impacts, including an increased risk of some cancers, higher cholesterol levels, altered hormone levels, reduced kidney function and even thyroid disease.

But it’s not straightforward. Not only are studies about the health effects of PFAS relatively limited, to date their findings have also been inconsistent. And even though some do show an association between PFAS and negative health outcomes, an ‘association’ doesn’t mean ‘cause’. For example, in some studies that showed a link, PFAS levels were similar to those found in the general population, meaning it’s impossible to know whether it’s the PFAS that’s the issue or one of the many other factors that can affect health.

As a result, according to an Australian Government expert health panel, the evidence that PFAS poses clinically significant harm to human health is currently limited and requires further investigation – but precautions should still be taken.

What can you do to lower your exposure to PFAS?

Given how widely and for how long PFAS have been used in household products, some experts say it’s practically impossible – and even unnecessary – for us to attempt to change our exposure. The exception they call out is people in high-risk occupations, such as firefighters, or if you live in an area that is a known contamination zone.

Plus, since the early 2000s, the use of PFAS has been progressively phased out in Australia and New Zealand – and the work continues. For example, just this year the Australian Government
officially banned the manufacturing, importing or exporting of some of the more common PFAS chemicals, while New Zealand’s Environmental Protection Authority has banned PFAS in cosmetics
from the end of 2026, becoming one of the first countries in the world to take that step.

And testing suggests it’s working. According to the Australian National University, home to the country’s ongoing PFAS Health Study, levels of PFAS in the population’s blood are 10 times lower on
average, than they were 25 years ago. But if you’re still keen to do what you can to limit your exposure to PFAS, here’s what you need to know…

FAQs

Wondering if there’s a test for PFAS or whether you should stop drinking tap water? Here’s the answer to those and a few other common questions.

‘Forever chemicals’ are technically known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. They’re a group of nearly 15,000 human-made chemicals that have been used in anti-stain and anti-stick treatments. They’ve been used on non-stick cookware, as well as in insecticides and firefighting foams, since the 1970s. They’re used in cosmetics, dental floss, waterproof clothing and, more recently, sustainable food packaging. They’re labelled with the ‘forever’ tag because they don’t break down easily in the environment and, over time, also tend to build up in the bodies of living things – including us.

Q: Should I get tested for PFAS?

ANSWER: Currently, PFAS blood tests aren’t considered routine or particularly useful for individuals. A test may show you’ve been exposed to PFAS, but they have no diagnostic value because a clear connection between specific blood levels of PFAS and any effect on health isn’t supported by evidence.

Q: Should I stop drinking tap water?

ANSWER: While limiting or avoiding drinking heavily contaminated water may help to reduce PFAS exposure, experts say Australia’s tap water is largely safe as far as PFAS levels are concerned. If you’re worried, check with the water supplier in your area for specific, local information. It’s also important to note that in Australia at least 90 per cent of PFAS exposure comes from sources other than drinking water, like household products.

Q: So, is non-stick cookware safe or not?

ANSWER: Teflon is made from a chemical that belongs to the PFAS family, but it has a different structure to the PFAS chemicals that have been identified as being potentially the most problematic ones. As a result, regulators don’t consider Teflon to be a chemical of
concern for either the environment or health.

Q: Are PFAS and microplastics the same thing?

ANSWER: No. While PFAS can be present in microplastics, they’re separate things.

Q: Is BPA a forever chemical?

ANSWER: No it’s not. While bisphenol A, or BPA for short, is a chemical that’s often used in hard plastic food containers and has been linked to some of the same health impacts as PFAS, it’s not a forever chemical.

Q: Will boiling water or using a water filter remove PFAS?

ANSWER: Boiling water before you drink it won’t destroy any PFAS that might be present, and while some water filters may help, not all do. Research into the best filtration method is ongoing but filters that use granular activated carbon, ion exchange or reverse osmosis are thought to be most effective.

Trust your gut

Despite the jury being out on the health impacts of PFAS and whether people can – or should – personally take steps to significantly limit their exposure, new research also suggests that doing what you can to improve your gut health may be a smart strategy. The results of the study, albeit an animal one, showed certain species of healthy gut bacteria can soak up between 25 and 74 per cent of the PFAS they’re exposed to. The researchers say it’s the first evidence that the gut microbiome may have an important role to play in helping to remove PFAS chemicals from the body.