Technology often solves old problems while creating new ones, and the revelation that forever chemicals are being found everywhere, including in our own bodies, is yet another example of this phenomenon.
PFAS are everywhere and have helped societies across the globe industrialize and modernize. But all the while, they've been poisoning us in ways we still don't entirely understand. You'll find these chemicals in non-stick cookware, paint, cosmetics, and much more. While initially hailed as a magic chemical (much like DDT was for mosquito control), today, we're discovering that the use of the substances is rapidly becoming an international health crisis.
Recently, tap water all over America was revealed to be polluted with PFAS. We're learning that food packaging is yet another vector for these chemicals, whose health effects are well-documented and devastating. PFAS can affect human reproduction and possibly partially explain the collapse of male fertility in recent decades.
As the name forever chemicals would suggest, these toxic substances persist and accumulate and are complex and expensive to clean up. There is no clear solution to solve the issue, but California passed a law that came into effect this year to regulate PFAS in food packages. But like many California laws, the legislative intent is clear, but the law's enforcement and actual practicality is currently aspirational.
Like many Americans, I was unaware of the growing dangers of PFAS until my friend, Leah Segedie, founder of Mamavation, a green parenting digital community, pointed out how pervasive PFAS were in our supply chain. Mothers are often on the frontlines of social change, and right now, Leah's fight against PFAS is yet another example of the power of parents to ignite reform.
One of the scariest things about PFAS that I've learned through Leah's work is that there are more than 15,000 of them (and growing). Her work testing household products and food packaging for PFAS can only identify about 100 of them. Commercial lab testing has limitations, and even with unlimited funds, her organization would not be able to paint a complete and accurate picture of all of the forever chemicals we are ingesting in our day-to-day lives.
Even with those limitations, there's still a lot that we can learn from testing our food packaging. Because I travel for work, I helped Leah test many products that helped her community understand what brands kept PFAS out of their packaging. While this testing found much work left to be done, we are happy to report that at least one major fast-casual brand cleaned up their act after we brought the presence of PFAS in their bowls to their attention.
Public awareness is one way to help us find a solution to this growing plague, but this is an issue that will need governmental action. Fortunately, the state of California is not alone in protecting human health from PFAS in food packaging. Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington have passed similar legislation.
Now, it's time for Congress to act. Regulating forever chemicals should be an easy bipartisan issue that can help heal the ugly political divide in Washington. We can't play Russian roulette with human health, as these chemicals may be compromising our ability to reproduce as a species.
David Grasso is a journalist, commentator, and serial entrepreneur. David is the CEO of Bold TV, part of an extensive non-profit media portfolio comprising many digital brands funded by a well-known business titan.
