RIVM warns: we are taking in too much of the unhealthy substance PFAS
Argh, there’s that terrible substance PFAS again. It really does turn up everywhere. Literally, because RIVM is now warning us that we are taking in unhealthy amounts of PFAS. And that is worrying.
Does the word ‘PFAS’ not ring any bells? Let me help you: PFAS is a collection of thousands of chemical substances that were once considered a miracle solution, but are now causing major problems. In the 1950s, the substance was incorporated into the – groundbreaking at the time – Teflon non-stick coating made by the American company DuPont. The invention meant that we could finally fry eggs and pancakes without them sticking to the pan. And the substance had more useful properties. Among other things, it was (and is) fire-resistant, stain-resistant and water-repellent. It’s no coincidence that it is also used in fast-food packaging, bicycle chains and parchment paper.
PFAS: bad for your health and the environment
Sounds fantastic, all those good properties, right? Yes, but there are also major disadvantages. Huge ones, affecting two very important things in our lives: our own health and the environment. PFAS is harmful to our immune system and, in large quantities, can be carcinogenic and disrupt hormones. It does no good for the environment either, because it is not biodegradable. That means that all the PFAS ever dumped into the environment will remain there forever. This has already led to great anger among residents of Dordrecht, who live near a Teflon factory. In protest, they dump a bucket of PFAS-contaminated soil at the factory every Saturday.
Eat a varied diet
According to RIVM, we are therefore taking in excessive amounts of the unhealthy substance PFAS. In the long term, this can lead to dangerous situations for our health. Seventy percent of all the substances we take in – including PFAS – come from food. RIVM’s advice is therefore to eat as varied a diet as possible. This allows you to limit the amount of PFAS as much as possible. The organisation also advises us not to drink surface water: that is where most PFAS is found.
No fish from the Western Scheldt
What should you definitely avoid eating? Fish from the Western Scheldt. The Western Scheldt is full of PFAS because factories in the port of Antwerp discharged enormous quantities of the substance into the water for years. If you are an enthusiastic angler, you would be better off finding another place to cast your line.
Get rid of those non-stick pans
The fact that RIVM is warning about the amounts of PFAS is not particularly surprising, by the way. The so-called ‘health-based guidance value’ for PFAS is very low. This means that you quickly take in too much of the substance. Nevertheless, according to the organisation, it is worrying that we are exceeding the limit. So keep eating a varied diet to limit the amount of PFAS as much as possible. And get rid of your non-stick pans immediately. You practically take in PFAS just by looking at them.
Also read:
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- Yuck: red wine from these three major supermarkets contains a controversial agricultural pesticide
- Toxic substance in Skittles: Mars taken to court
Source: RTL Nieuws
