HAIR

• From non-stick frying pans to stain-resistant sofas, some of the most innovative everyday products are made using chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
• They can repel water and oil, resist high temperatures and act as “surfactants” by helping different types of liquids mix.
• There are around 15,000 different PFAS chemicals.
• With enormous volumes of PFAS continually entering the world, these extremely persistent chemicals don’t get the chance to degrade before more are added.

1. Stain-resistant textiles

• Traditionally, stain-proofing products have contained at least one PFAS, including the now banned perfluorooctane sulphonic acid (PFOS) or perfluorohexanesulphonic Acid (PFHxS), or another similarly structured PFAS.
• When buying carpets and sofas, save money and don’t take out the additional stain-proofing option unless there is a guaranteed PFAS-free option.

2. Food packaging and cookware

• Avoiding takeaways and disposable packaging will probably reduce your exposure to PFAS.
• As these are heated up, become scratched or the surface starts to wear, PFAS can migrate from the pan and into the food being prepared.

3. Outdoor clothing

• PFAS have been used to provide waterproofing properties to outdoor clothing such as coats, gloves and trousers.
• But studies have shown that they do not stay in the treated products and slowly migrate out over time.

4. Cosmetics

• PFAS are routinely used in cosmetics, including foundations, concealers, blemish balms, lip liners as well as cleansers, hair and shaving products.
• Some brands offer PFAS-free products, including H&M and Sephora, but many major brands are still producing cosmetics containing PFAS.

Proceed with caution