I want to learn more about PFAS

The CDC’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry has a page for PFAS that addresses many of these topics.

To find local information:

• • Many municipalities test for PFAS and report them in their monthly, quarterly, or yearly reports. Check out your local water utility report for the most updated numbers.
  • The Environmental Working Group periodically updates a rather comprehensive interactive map of PFAS contamination in the US, which you can find here.
  • The PFAS Project Lab at Northeastern University also maintains an interactive map of PFAS contamination, and the data used to make this map can be viewed here. 
  • However, a recent Northeastern study suggests that there are thousands more sites that are contaminated but have not yet been tested for PFAS.

To find state-by-state information:

• • Look at your state’s contamination data/map under the “US State Drinking Water” entry on the PFAS Central Data Hub
  • See if your state currently (as of Oct 2022) has regulations, which would be summarized in this Rockefeller Institute report
  • Check out this 2020 paper from Gloria Post at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection contextualizes and summarizes different US states’ PFAS regulations
  • Search around a bit on Google

Local journalists often cover PFAS contamination and laws! Check your local newspaper as well.

As long as your Teflon pan isn’t chipped or scratched and you don’t leave it on high heat while it’s empty, it’s likely fine. The bulk of the problem with Teflon pans is the PFAS used to manufacture it.

That said, if you’re looking for pans without PFAS, don’t rely on a “PFOA-free” or “PFOS-free” label; those are just two of many PFAS. Make sure the pan uses a Teflon alternative.

There are a lot on non-stick alternatives. Consumer Reports has a roundup of a few here.

I personally like anodized aluminum and find that its non-stickiness lasts longer than ceramic non-stick, which becomes sticky over time due to how ceramic non-stick pans work.

PFAS Central has a list of PFAS-free products in several different categories. They link to where the company outlines their no-PFAS policy. (credit to Prof. Shira Joudan for making me aware of this link!)

In terms of products that have been tested and shown to not have PFAS: I personally disagree with the analysis techniques used by Mamavation, but their recommendations err on the side of extreme caution, so you would be safe with their recommended picks for PFAS-free products in many, various categories.

A study from NC State showed that fridge activated carbon filters do filter out some PFAS, and under-the-sink reverse osmosis systems did a better job. However, they noted that pitcher water filters aren’t expected to be very effective because of the show amount of time that the water is in contact with the filter.

Cyclopure offers PFAS-specific water filters that fit inside a Brita pitcher. Included in the cost is mailing the used filter back to Cyclopure for proper PFAS disposal. (Disclaimer: Cyclopure was co-founded by my PhD advisor.)

In states such as New York, you can request to get your blood measured by the Department of Health if you think you’ve been exposed to PFAS. In many places, you can also request or check the water quality report for your water utility to see the latest levels of PFAS measured (or not measured!) in your water.

If you’re worried about PFAS exposure through products, learn more about where you might be exposed and try to buy/use fewer of them: Clothes or other fabric items that are “waterproof” or “water resistant,” certain types of dental floss, any kind of paper that has been water-proofed or grease-proofed (burger wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, takeout bowls, paper straws, etc.)

(Thanks to Dr. Casey Ching and Dr. Jordin Metz for assistance on this answer!)

• You can call your representatives, both state and congressional representatives and senators. Congress is thinking about PFAS legislation, as are many states.
• Tell your local city council (or equivalent) about your concerns. If possible, look up PFAS levels in your area online (you could try calling your water utility), as many utilities monitor for PFAS and have to publish a list of monitored contaminants, such as PFOS, PFOA, PFBS, etc. If you can’t find local numbers, see if the closest big city or the state has PFAS numbers.
• Look for local and national advocacy groups. Two national advocacy groups with experience in PFAS advocacy are the Environmental Working Group and the Green Science Policy Institute.
• If you find out about PFAS in goods that you use/like, contact that company and express your interest in them stopping the use of PFAS and/or finding PFAS alternatives.
• Talk to your friends and neighbors about the issue to increase the number of people taking the above actions

Thanks to Dr. Jordin Metz for assistance on this answer!