There is finally some hopeful news in relation to our struggles with PFAS, or toxic “forever chemicals” as they are often called. Scientists have discovered that certain species of microbes in our guts can absorb them and allow us to pass them from our bodies.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are synthetic chemicals that have been widely used in various products since the 1950s. Long celebrated for their resistance to stains, heat, oil, grease, and water, these chemicals have been used as coatings in products as diverse as pots and pans, clothing, furniture, food packaging, adhesives, and firefighting equipment.
However, these chemicals are extremely persistent and can contaminate the environment and the bodies of animals long after the original product they were part of has been disposed of. To say they’re everywhere is a bit of an understatement now, and scientists are becoming increasingly worried about the impacts they have on our health.
Some of the PFAS that enter our bodies can be passed in urine in a few days, but others with a longer molecular structure can hang around for years at a time.
