10/22/2024 / By Olivia Cook
Mamavation’s EPA-certified laboratory has discovered the presence of PFAS “forever chemicals” in several popular facial tissue brands sold today. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are chemicals that have been used for decades to make products resistant to grease, oil, stains and water.
According to studies, exposure to PFAS in the environment has harmful effects on humans and animals.
The study involved sending 13 different brands of facial tissue to an EPA-certified lab for analysis. (Related: Common bandages contain alarming levels of cancer-causing PFAS, which leach directly into the blood.)
These tissues, sourced from purchases or donations by community members between January 2023 and April 2024, were not provided by the manufacturers. The selection included a range of tissue types, such as lotion-free, dye-free, soft, hypoallergenic and sustainable options, all intended for everyday use. Surplus tissues were donated to a local community center.
The EPA-certified laboratory used a marker testing method to detect potential PFAS in the tissues, employing organic fluorine as an indicator. This marker is significant because all PFAS chemicals are carbon-based compounds containing fluorine.
The specific testing method, known as the “Determination of total fluorine by oxygen flask combustion and ion-selective electrode,” measured the total fluorine content. If the total fluorine was at least 10 parts per million (ppm), the lab performed a further test to determine the free fluoride ion and then calculated the organic fluorine content. This testing can reveal the presence of PFAS, including fluoropolymers, pharmaceuticals and common hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants like R-134a and HFO-1234yf, which are types of PFAS not suitable for contact with food and personal care products such as facial tissues.
According to Dr. Scott Belcher, associate professor at the Centre for Environmental & Health Effects of PFAS at North Carolina State University, fluoropolymers, like polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), are common PFAS forms that may contribute to the organic fluorine found in facial tissues. While tests for specific PFAS, like PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), cannot directly detect PTFE, total organic fluorine (TOF) analysis accounts for all PFAS contaminants, including PTFE. This makes the testing method a useful “spot-check” for consumer products.
The analysis found that 46 percent of the tested facial tissue products contained PFAS, with six out of 13 brands showing organic fluorine levels above 10 ppm.
Notably, 66 percent of the products with organic fluorine detections were advertised as made from bamboo.
All of the tested products with such detections claimed to have environmentally friendly features, such as being made from bamboo, holding a “sustainable” certification like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or being classified as “tree-free.”
The detected organic fluorine levels ranged from 10 ppm to 25 ppm, suggesting contamination in the supply chain rather than the intentional addition of PFAS.
These findings highlight that “sustainability” claims do not necessarily mean the absence of PFAS. They also show that bamboo-based facial tissues might have contamination issues that are not present in larger or more conventional tissue brands.
The following facial tissue products, tested at Mamavation’s EPA-certified laboratory, showed the presence of organic fluorine – a marker for PFAS:
These facial tissue products were also tested and found to have “no detectable levels of organic fluorine.” The detection limit for the tests was 10 ppm, so any amount below this threshold was not detectable. These tissues, while not using the most environmentally friendly materials, are considered to be “better” due to their lower PFAS content and are typical of regular or sensitive skin tissues:
These facial tissue products also showed no detectable organic fluorine. They are made from materials that are less harmful to the environment, making them the “best” options:
PFAS “forever chemicals” pose significant risks to human health and the environment due to their persistence, toxicity and ubiquity. These substances can remain in the human body for years or even decades.
The impact of PFAS exposure through open wounds is not well understood, but it could be a pathway for these chemicals to enter the body. Additionally, the effects of PFAS being absorbed into bodily tissues and circulating within the body are not fully known, but certain areas are generally vulnerable to toxic substances like PFAS.
It is crucial to minimize exposure to PFAS from sources such as food, water and consumer products, including facial tissues. Here are some of the health effects linked to PFAS exposure:
A study published in Heliyon linked PFAS exposure to weakened immune function. It highlighted evidence of immunosuppression and an increased risk of infections, allergies, asthma and atopic dermatitis following exposure to PFAS during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood.
A study published in Environment International suggests that PFAS exposure may have immunosuppressive effects, increasing the risk of respiratory infections, like bronchitis and pneumonia, as well as throat infections and gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea and gastric flu in children.
A study published in Current Environmental Health Reports linked prenatal exposure to common environmental contaminants, including PFAS, to adverse health outcomes during pregnancy, birth and later in life. Specifically, the research identified an increased risk of childhood obesity, fetal growth restrictions, gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia associated with PFAS exposure.
The Endocrine Society notes that nearly 85,000 synthetic chemicals are currently in use industrially, with more than 1,000 of these potentially functioning as endocrine disruptors due to their specific characteristics. Among the most frequently studied and recognized “forever chemicals” include:
Read more stories like this at Products.news.
Watch the following video about “Beyond the data – PFAS and protecting your health.”
This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.
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