PFAS: Where are 'forever chemicals' lurking in your shopping?

PFAS, the so-called forever chemicals, turn up in countless everyday items, even drinking water. Competely avoiding them at this level of saturation is difficult, but there are certain products you should be avoiding. Berlin (dpa) – PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals," are found in almost everything in daily life, including drinking water. A growing body of evidence has linked them to health problems such as a higher risk of cancer, and yet avoiding them is notoriously difficult. As the name suggests, these substances are highly persistent and take hundreds of years to break down, meaning the PFAS likely in your body will long outlast you. Because they repel dirt, water and grease, they are used in coatings, printing inks and even some medicines. It helps to look for products labelled PFAS-free or fluorocarbon-free when shopping, says Janna Kuhlmann, a chemicals expert at a German environmental organization. However, products containing PFAS are generally not required to carry warnings. Extra care is needed with coated or stain-repellent items. PFAS are often found in non-stick pan coatings, shoe and textile proofing treatments, and in upholstered furniture or carpets, the chemicals expert explained. PFAS are also used in single-use paper packaging such as takeaway cups or pizza boxes. There are alternatives for many products. If a product doesn't say whether PFAS are present, you may be able to find help in product scanning apps like Yuka and Think Dirty. You just scan the barcode with the app and get information about PFAS or other toxic chemicals it might have. However, their widespread use and long-term impact mean that most consumers are simply forced to ingest some form of PFAS, even if they try to avoid them. Research in the UK in 2024 found PFAS were present in 95% of strawberries, while a 2025 study of breakfast products, sweets, pasta, baked goods and flour from across Europe found that around four in five had a hormone-disrupting form of PFAS. The following information is not intended for publication dpa/tmn luk yyzz n1 nam sw

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