Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFASare on everyone's lips. In the media and scientific community, they are often referred to as "forever chemicals." The reason for this is their chemical structure: the extremely stable carbon-fluorine bonds ensure that these substances are virtually indestructible in the environment as well as in the human organism.
But how do PFAS enter the body, what health consequences does this have, and how can one get rid of these pollutants again? Evidence-based review below.
How Do PFAS Enter the Human Organism?
According to reports from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the German Federal Environment Agency (UBA), the uptake of PFAS into the body occurs mainly through three everyday pathways:
- Drinking water and food (primary exposure pathway): PFAS accumulate in the food chain via contaminated soil and bodies of water. Fish, meat, dairy products, and vegetables from contaminated regions are particularly affected.
- Consumer products: Whether grease-repellent food packaging (e.g., fast-food cardboard packaging), coated cookware (Teflon), or water-repellent outdoor apparel – in daily life, we constantly come into contact with PFAS.
- House dust and air: Through abrasion from carpets, upholstered furniture, or waterproofing sprays, PFAS particles enter the indoor air and are inhaled.
Where Are PFAS Deposited in the Body?
In contrast to classic environmental toxins such as dioxins or PCBs, which accumulate in fatty tissue, PFAS behave differently. They are both grease- and water-repellent(lipophobic and hydrophobic).).
A groundbreaking study on tissue distribution by Forsthuber et al. in the scientific journal Environmental Science & Technology shows that PFAS in the body bind heavily to proteins – particularly to the blood protein albumin. They are therefore primarily deposited in well-perfused organs and tissues:
- In the blood (blood serum)
- In the liver
- In the kidneys
Extreme Half-Life: Why Do PFAS Remain in Humans for So Long?
Because the human organism can hardly degrade PFAS biologically, a large portion of the substances filtered by the kidneys is reabsorbed back into the blood stream (renal reabsorption).
Large-scale long-term studies, such as the Swedish study Li et al.prove that the biological half-life – the time the body needs to excrete half of the ingested amount – takes years to decades:
| PFAS Compound | Biological Half-Life in Humans |
| PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid) | approx. 3.5 to 8 years |
| PFOS (Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid) | approx. 4 to 5 years |
| PFHxS (Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid) | approx. 8 to 15 years |
Particularity in women: On average, women excrete PFAS somewhat faster than men. However, this occurs primarily through menstruation, pregnancy (via the placenta), and breast milk during breastfeeding. Data from the European biomonitoring project HBM4EU HBM4EU show that the pollutants are thereby unintentionally passed on to the child.
PFAS Effects: What Are the Health Risks?
Chronic exposure to PFAS in the body is being intensively researched. The scientific panel of EFSA has drastically lowered the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) in recent years. The following health risks are considered scientifically well-documented:
- Weakening of the immune system: PFAS demonstrably reduce the antibody response after vaccinations, particularly in children.
- Disrupted lipid metabolism: A high PFAS concentration in the blood correlates with elevated cholesterol levels (especially LDL cholesterol).
- Hormonal disruptions: PFAS can impair thyroid function and lead to increased liver stress (identifiable by rising liver enzyme levels).
- Impact on pregnancy: Studies show a correlation with reduced birth weight in newborns.
- Increased cancer risk: The WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer(IARC)has officially reclassified the PFAS compound PFOA into Group 1("carcinogenic to humans").Among other things, it is suspected of favoring kidney and testicular cancer.
PFAS Detox: Can You Detoxify the Body?
The major question that arises now is whether one can somehow get rid of PFAS. Sweating them out, fasting them out, or perhaps through special medications? The clear answer from medical science is currently: No, there is no established medical procedure for rapid detoxification. Since the chemicals do not reside in fatty tissue, neither therapeutic fasting, diets, nor sauna sessions help. During weight loss, the substances are often even mobilized and temporarily strain the bloodstream more heavily.
The Best Strategy: Stop New Uptake
The only effective measure is the consistent avoidance of new uptake. If no new pollutants follow, the body breaks down the existing load by itself over years, extremely slowly.
The Federal Environment Agency and independent water researchers recommend the use of certified activated carbon block filters or reverse osmosis systems in the household in cases of local contamination, as these processes can filter PFAS out of drinking water highly effectively. Furthermore, when purchasing everyday products (pans, textiles, cosmetics), consumers should specifically look for the label "PFAS-free."
Would you like to learn more about this topic? Feel free to read the following articles:
- PFAS in the Body: How Dangerous Are Forever Chemicals to Our Health?
- Removing PFAS from Wastewater: Target Treatment of Industrial Water Streams
- PFAS in Everyday Life: Correctly Categorizing Cookware, Carpets, and Drinking Water
- Removing PFAS from Water: Elimination of Forever Chemicals with BDD Electrolysis
Sources
- Main access routes & TWI limits:
- Federal consumer information:
Umweltbundesamt (UBA): Per- und polyfluorierte Chemikalien (PFAS)
- Protein binding in tissue:
Environmental Science & Technology (2020): Accurate Prediction of PFAS Tissue Distribution in Humans
- Study on biological half-lives:
- PFAS exposure in children and infants:
HBM4EU Policy Brief: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
- WHO classification of PFOA (cancer risk):
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