Environmental Question #33 [Hidden PFAS]

Are there ways to avoid buying products with stealth PFOA? It seems like it’s hidden everywhere and while I realize it’s not generally harmful to me as a user of a pan or a raincoat, I don’t want to contribute to the harm manufacturing it does.

Courtesy of Reddit user u/AccidentOk5240

Q: Are there ways to avoid buying products with stealth PFOA? It seems like it’s hidden everywhere and while I realize it’s not generally harmful to me as a user of a pan or a raincoat, I don’t want to contribute to the harm manufacturing it does. Are manufacturers still using it freely everywhere? I realize just not buying anything is the best way, but if a pair of pants says it has “stain resistant treatment” and I need a pair of pants, I want to know if we’re ever making manufacturers substitute something less awful for PTFE.

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A: Great question! Fortunately, PFOA and other PFAS are not being freely used everywhere, in large part due to public outcry and bad press for companies that still use PFAS. The fact that you know what PFOA is and don't want it in your products is directly contributing to it being gradually phased out across most industries. That said, there is still a long way to go, but as government regulators around the world catch up to public sentiment on this issue, the phase out of PFAS will continue to accelerate.

For avoiding unlabelled PFOA in products, it can be tricky to identify, but there are absolutely steps you can take to avoid it. PFOA and other PFAS often don't get mentioned on ingredient lists, because they are used in such small amounts that they fall below the minimum percentage for public reporting. That said though, there are some telltale signs of PFAS being present in clothing in particular. As you mentioned, PFAS is resistant to water and stains, so it is often used to coat materials that would otherwise stain easily. Natural materials stain easily, but plastic doesn't, so if you see cotton clothing that says "stain resistant" on it, then there is probably PFAS in that product. However, if the product is made of polyester or polyethylene, which are both plastics that are inherently stain resistant, then using PFAS to put a stain resistant coating on an already stain resistant material would be a waste of money for the manufacturer. For example, the upholstery of my couch is made of recycled water bottles, which are made of polyethylene, a material that is already water and stain resistant, so there is no PFAS present.

There have already been some great alternatives to PFAS entering the market just over the past few years. Materials like sil-poly and sil-nylon use silicone to coat fabrics instead of PFAS, which is much less damaging to the environment and much safer for the consumer. If you're looking specifically for high tech stain repellent products, these are a pretty good place to look. I've seen these materials getting popular recently in the world of expensive camping equipment.

As for the plumbing tape, I know exactly what you mean and I honestly hadn't thought about it much before this. In the lab, we use PTFE tape to seal connections and prevent leaks too. I never paid it much mind, since the tiny bit of tape we use in the lab doesn't make a significant environmental impact, but of course there must be a lot more PTFE tape used in plumbing joints across the world than in labs. PTFE replacement research has been a major focus in the chemical and materials industries for the past 10 years, so I imagine there are alternatives out there or at least in the works, but I don't actually know off the top of my head. I'll be keeping an eye out of good alternatives right alongside you.