Forever Chemicals and the Household Substances they are Found In
If you wear glasses, you probably know how frustrating it can be to battle fog when wearing a mask or face shield. Many people have turned to anti-fogging sprays and cloths to combat the ever-present fog that has plagued people wearing glasses throughout the pandemic.
Recently, it was discovered that these sprays and cloths may contain high levels of toxic PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances), which are considered to be “forever chemicals” in that they do not break down in the environment.
Forever chemicals are often referred to as the new asbestos. The pattern of research and regulations set forth to control PFAS has many similarities to how the risks of asbestos were revealed decades ago, and the action had to be taken to remove it from the environment altogether. PFAS are found extensively in the environment, so eliminating them completely is nearly impossible. Exposure to the chemicals has been linked to certain cancers, weakened immunity, thyroid disease, and other health effects. Mothers and children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of PFAS, as they can affect reproductive and developmental health.
The research from a Duke University study looked at four top-rated anti-fogging sprays, and five anti-fog clothes found on Amazon. The research discovered that all nine samples contained fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) and fluorotelomer ethoxylates (FTEOs), two types of PFAS. The levels of PFAS found in the product during the Duke study were considerably high, up to 20.7 milligrams of PFAS per milliliter of solution. Many of the products that contained these high levels of PFAS were billed as safe and non-toxic, even for children.
Other Exposure to PFAS
PFAS can be found in other personally used items as well. These items include:
- Some grease-resistant paper, fast food containers/wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, pizza boxes, and candy wrappers
- Nonstick cookware
- Stain-resistant coatings used on carpets, upholstery, and other fabrics
- Water-resistant clothing
- Cleaning products
- Personal care products (shampoo, dental floss) and cosmetics (nail polish, eye makeup)
Paints, varnishes, and sealants
The PFAS can seep into the drinking water and food we consume. PFAS chemicals are often added to cosmetics, lotions, cleaners, and nail polish or find their way into products via raw ingredient contamination. The PFAS chemicals are added to products because of their skin-smoothing properties or to add shine. Most people are probably not aware that their products contain these dangerous chemicals. During the Duke research study, they found none of the anti-fog sprays or cloths that they studied listed their ingredients.
Steering Clear of PFAS
Due to the pandemic and the massive uptick in people wearing masks everywhere they go, there was an increase in demand for anti-fog sprays and cloths over the last two years. As noted in the Duke study, many medical professionals and first-responders who spent hours upon hours in masks relied on these products to prevent fog. Now that the results of this study have been published, people may want to be more diligent in selecting proven safe products.
Reading labels for some chemical-laden products, like anti-fog spray, can sometimes be confusing. To circumvent this issue, one will want to select personal products that note that they do not contain PFAS. With the release of the damning information from the Duke study, companies have gone back to the drawing board, and some have released anti-fog products that are PFAS free.
As the dark storm clouds of the pandemic begin to clear and we anticipate sunnier, healthier days ahead, the high demand for anti-fog products may wane. However, those who rely on wearing glasses regularly will always require anti-fog products in some fashion. With the release of the Duke study, companies who provide these products will likely have to address the level of harmful chemicals in their goods and remedy the situation to avoid a business-ending backlash.
Dr. Liia Ramachandra
EpiLynx by Dr. Liia was born from my struggle with gluten allergy and realizing that I wasn’t alone. Not being able to find skincare products that could guarantee being gluten-free, my husband and I decided to create our own. Both of us have over 30 years of pharmaceutical medicine development experience. We decided to use scientific and medical skills to enhance the lives of all people our products touch.
