'PFAS' is something we see more and more often. These are substances that really seem to be in everything. Apparently those substances are really not healthy for you. A lot of research is being done and they are all not rosy.
We already knew that it is in all those pans with such a non-stick coating, but now Radar brought up the topic of PFAS. Not about pans this time, but PFAS in makeup, and of course we need to know the ins and outs about that.
What exactly is PFAS?
PFAS is actually a collective name for harmful substances with the same compound. It stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and these are chemicals that have been invented and created by humans. There are different kinds.
They are added to, among other things, lubricants, food packaging materials, fire-fighting foam, non-stick coatings of pans, textiles and cosmetics. PFAS is also found in baking paper. These substances are currently associated with a variety of health effects. And these are not the least.
They can influence it immune systemon the cholesterol that is in your blood and has effects on the liver. They can go further kidney and testicular cancer cause. It can also cause many problems in nature, where it often ends up.
Why are there PFAS in makeup?
These fabrics are grease, dirt and water repellent. That is indeed useful for those pans, but also in mascara, for example. After all, you don't want it to run out when it rains or you have to cry (preferably from laughing). But that's actually not such a good idea at all.
You usually use make-up every day and so you also come into contact with these substances every day. Food is checked whether and how much PFAS is in it, but this is not done with make-up. You would have a maximum of one half a gram per day may receive.
The European Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (EFSA) has drawn up guidelines for this, but these only apply to food and drinking water. In make-up they are absorbed by the skin. If you use make-up every day, you will quickly exceed this maximum.
What are the effects of PFAS?
We already wrote that there is a greater risk of cancer, but then you have to ingest a lot of the substances. Rather, it is the danger that your immune system will be compromised. That means you have more risk of disease and inflammation. Also the response to vaccinations becomes lower.
Moreover, PFAS do not disappear from your body that quickly. If you have applied cosmetics that contain PFAS, it will last five years before half of the absorbed amount has been broken down. So that takes a very long time and of course there is always more to come.
How can you know if it's in your makeup?
It turns out that it is very difficult to see what PFAS are in. People who work at drugstores and perfumeries often do not know this either. There are two quality marks that check whether products do not contain PFAS.
They are the two quality marks that do this European Ecolabel and the Scandinavian Nordic Swan. If it says this, you can be sure that it is not there. In this article from Radar There is a link where you can watch the broadcast again.