Though advances in how we plant, process, and store food have made it easier to secure the food supply, they haven’t been without consequences. One problem that researchers are continually studying is the presence of what is known as ‘forever chemicals’ in the environment. These chemicals can be found in different places and present a challenge because they don’t break down easily. Now, they’re concerned because they’ve found one of these ‘forever chemicals’ in a surprising place – wine bottles. Here’s what you need to know.
What are Forever Chemicals?
The technical name for ‘forever chemicals’ is per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This refers to a family of over 5,000 substances that persist in the environment after they’ve been used in some form of manufacturing. They’re considered to be useful because they can withstand grease and moisture while not sticking to other materials.
As a result, they’re often used in frying pans, baking equipment, food packaging, fabric treatments, floor polish, cosmetics, and firefighting foam. Given their properties, though, it shouldn’t be surprising that PFAS resist biodegradation fairly well. That means they can remain in the environment for years. Their persistence means that they have been detected in the air, drinking water sources like lakes and rivers, and rain. They can also leach into the soil from certain locations, such as industrial facilities and wastewater treatment facilities.
Given their pervasive nature, it shouldn’t be surprising that PFAS can also get into your food if it comes in contact with common sources. For example, the chemicals may be found in seafood, dairy products, and milk. This is important because the chemicals can have harmful side effects like disrupting your hormones, affecting the effectiveness of your vaccines, and increasing your risk of thyroid problems.
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What’s in Your Wine Bottles?
Researchers have known for some time that PFAS can be detected in certain foods that come in contact with common sources. With the knowledge of how PFAS can affect health, though, some industries are working to reduce how much of the chemical they use and, in return, cut down on how much lurks in the environment.
However, recent studies show that the level of a particular chemical, trifluoroacetic acid, has risen significantly in wines over the past decade. When they tested wines that were bottled in 1988, the level of trifluoroacetic acid was much less than those that were bottled in 2010 and afterward. Some scientists suggest that the reason behind this may be linked to fluorinated refrigerants known as F-gases and PFAS pesticides concentrated in the agricultural soil used. It’s difficult to confirm that, though, because there’s little data available for the accumulation and degradation of trifluoroacetic acid in soil.
Still, it remains a possibility, especially since researchers found lower levels of the chemical in wines that were organic than those that weren’t.
The Potential Side Effects
It should be noted that PFAS, like trifluoroacetic acid, don’t stay in the body forever. They are usually passed out through natural processes like urination. How long this takes depends on what is known as the chemical’s ‘half-life’. A half-life is defined as how long it takes for half of a chemical’s known quantity to break down or be removed. For example, if a chemical has a half-life of five years, that’s how long it will take for half of it to leave your body. The good news is that trifluoroacetic acid has a half-life of 16 hours. That means it shouldn’t take long for the chemical to be excreted from your body.
More research needs to be done regarding the quantity of trifluoroacetic acid that persists in the environment and the consequences of its buildup in the body. Even though trifluoroacetic acid is used in multiple industries, its side effects have mostly been investigated when it comes to inhalation and skin contact. Despite its presence in soil, water, and food, the possibility of the chemical affecting other aspects of your health hasn’t been established yet. As such, this chemical is still regarded as being slightly to moderately toxic.
Can You Avoid It?
According to many health and environmental experts, it’s not possible to avoid PFAs entirely. That problem is mainly due to a combination of how widespread their use is and how long they last. However, there are a few ways that you can reduce your exposure as governments and their agencies work on providing guidelines for the use and limits of PFAs.
When it comes to your clothing, you can look for clothes that say they contain little or no PFAs in their apparel. If they don’t declare it on their website, you can contact a customer service representative to help you. Additionally, the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has a list of companies that have declared their clothing as safe. Another way you can reduce your exposure to PFAS is to avoid rugs, bedding, and furniture that are touted as being water-resistant. Those products are fairly guaranteed to contain PFAs.
If there are PFAS in your water, the last thing you want to do is boil it. That’s because doing so will only concentrate the chemicals in the water. Using water filters that are designed to remove PFAS is a better bet. That can include reverse osmosis and granular activated carbon filters, as they can effectively remove PFAS and other contaminants from drinking water.
Avoiding PFAS in your food is a little trickier, but there are a few options. The easiest way to tackle PFAS is to stop using nonstick pans and replace them with safer alternatives such as stainless steel, ceramic, or cast-iron. Other changes that can help include avoiding the use of the pre-packaging that certain foods come in. For example, you can remove food from grease-resistant packaging before placing it in the microwave and make popcorn on the stove instead of using the microwave-friendly bags.
While more research needs to be done, it may also be possible to reduce your exposure to PFAS by choosing organic foods. While the chemicals may still exist in the soil, the levels may not be as high if pesticides or other chemicals aren’t used.
PFAS, or forever chemicals, have been around for years. However, researchers are concerned about their growing presence in wine as it may indicate that they haven’t identified all the potential sources of PFAS. In the meantime, you should take measures to protect yourself as best you can.
