Illustrations: AI-generated
PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a family of thousands of synthetic chemicals that resist heat, water, grease and stains. Their carbon-fluorine bonds barely break down, which is why they're called "forever chemicals." The best-studied ones are linked to kidney cancer, high cholesterol, smaller babies and weaker vaccine responses in kids.
How we reported this guide
✓ Every claim links to the study, agency or news report behind it.
✓ We say when research shows a link rather than proof.
✓ We didn't run our own tests. This guide summarizes published research and government data.
Table of Contents
Where are PFAS found?
Manufacturers have used PFAS since the 1940s in products that need to repel water, oil or heat. Common places you'll find them:
Nonstick cookware coated with PTFE, the material sold as Teflon
Stain- and water-resistant carpets, upholstery, rain jackets and outdoor gear
Firefighting foam, which has contaminated groundwater near airports and military bases
Some cosmetics, dental floss and ski wax
Drinking water, especially near factories, landfills and sites where firefighting foam was used
Because they don't break down, PFAS build up in water, soil, wildlife and people. US manufacturers stopped making the two best-known types, PFOA and PFOS, years ago, but both are still widely detected.
Water-repellent gear, nonstick pans, stain-resistant fabric and some dental floss can all contain PFAS.
What are the health risks of PFAS?
The most thorough review comes from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, which in 2022 graded the evidence for PFAS as a class. It found sufficient evidence of an association with four outcomes:
Lower antibody response to vaccines, in children and adults
High cholesterol
Lower birth weight and slower fetal growth
Kidney cancer in adults
It found more limited evidence for breast and testicular cancer, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, liver problems and high blood pressure during pregnancy. The academies recommended that doctors offer blood testing to people with likely high exposure, and said combined levels above 20 nanograms per milliliter carry the highest risk.
In 2023, the World Health Organization's cancer agency, IARC, classified PFOA as carcinogenic to humans, its highest category, and PFOS as possibly carcinogenic. The strongest human evidence for PFOA involves kidney and testicular cancer.
How strong is the evidence: Most of this comes from studies that find patterns across large groups of people. The CDC's toxic substances agency notes that cause and effect hasn't been proven for each outcome, and that newer PFAS are harder to study because they leave the body faster.
Why is MAHA concerned about PFAS?
The MAHA Commission's first report, released in May 2025, named PFAS as one of seven chemical groups it wants studied for their role in childhood chronic disease, alongside microplastics, fluoride, phthalates, bisphenols, pesticides and electromagnetic radiation. It stressed that children are exposed to mixtures of chemicals whose combined effects no regulator has fully accounted for.
For many in the movement, PFAS are a test of whether that concern turns into action. The Wall Street Journal reported that references to PFAS lobbying were cut from the report before it was released. The commission's September 2025 strategy mentions PFAS only in a plan for the CDC to update its water recommendations. It left out packaging, pesticides and sewage sludge spread on farmland, routes advocates had asked it to address.
What is the government doing about PFAS?
EPA · DRINKING WATER
Drinking water limits are being scaled back
In 2024, the EPA set the first national limits for six PFAS in drinking water: 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS, 10 parts per trillion for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX chemicals, and a combined limit for mixtures. In May 2026, the EPA proposed rescinding every limit except those for PFOA and PFOS, saying the earlier rule skipped steps the law requires. It also proposed letting water systems apply for two more years, until April 2031, to meet the PFOA and PFOS limits. The EPA has said it plans to finalize the changes.
Under the EPA's May 2026 proposal, water utilities would still have to meet limits for PFOA and PFOS, with the option to apply for more time.
THE MAHA RESPONSE
MAHA activists pushed back
The rollback plan, first announced in May 2025, became one of the grievances behind a petition, organized by figures including Moms Across America founder Zen Honeycutt and wellness host Alex Clark, calling for EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to be replaced. In April 2026, MAHA advocates again listed the PFAS rollback among their complaints. The EPA says its decisions are grounded in sound science.
FDA · FOOD PACKAGING
Grease-proof food packaging is gone
In February 2024, the FDA announced that PFAS grease-proofing agents were no longer being sold for food packaging in the US, after manufacturers phased them out.
STATE LAWS
States are moving faster
Minnesota, Maine and New Mexico have passed laws phasing PFAS out of categories of everyday products, and a growing number of states restrict PFAS in cookware.
How can you lower your exposure to PFAS?
Reverse osmosis and activated carbon filters certified under NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 can reduce PFOA and PFOS in drinking water.
BIGGEST SWAP
Filter what you drink
Look for: A reverse osmosis or activated carbon filter certified to reduce PFOA and PFOS under NSF/ANSI Standard 53 or 58.
Start here: Find out what's in your water. Your utility's annual water quality report lists PFAS results if it has tested. If you're on a private well, have it tested.
IN THE KITCHEN
Swap nonstick pans
Look for: Stainless steel, cast iron, carbon steel or glass.
Things to know: "PFOA-free" doesn't mean PFAS-free. The PTFE coating itself is a PFAS.
More ways to cut exposure:
Skip stain-guard and water-repellent sprays on furniture and carpet, and look for "PFAS-free" on rain gear and outdoor clothing.
Check labels on floss and cosmetics for ingredients with "fluoro" or "PTFE" in the name.
FAQs
Does "PFOA-free" mean PFAS-free?
No. PFOA is one type of PFAS. The PTFE coating on nonstick pans is itself a PFAS, so a pan labeled "PFOA-free" can still have a PFAS coating.
Can a water filter remove PFAS?
Reverse osmosis and activated carbon filters certified under NSF/ANSI Standard 53 or 58 can reduce PFOA and PFOS in drinking water.
Should I get a PFAS blood test?
The National Academies recommended that doctors offer blood testing to people with likely high exposure, and said combined levels above 20 nanograms per milliliter carry the highest risk. Ask your doctor whether testing makes sense for you.
The bottom line
PFAS are a family of thousands of chemicals that build up in the body and the environment.
The strongest evidence links them to kidney cancer, high cholesterol, lower birth weight and weaker vaccine response.
The EPA proposed in May 2026 to keep drinking water limits on only two PFAS and to give some utilities until 2031 to meet them.
A certified water filter and a stainless or cast-iron pan are the two biggest everyday swaps.
More from Healthy Again
PFAS pesticides, greens, and a sauerkraut signal (July 8, 2026)
Sources
Healthy, Again. is health news, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about testing or any health concern.