UK: Six surprising items that raise your rise of forever chemicals and how to reduce your levels naturally

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Six surprising items that raise your rise of forever chemicals and how to reduce your levels naturally without splashing the cash

Daily Mail - December 6, 2025

By EMILY STEARN, SENIOR HEALTH REPORTER

Forever chemicals are part and parcel of modern life.

Known medically as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), there are thousands of them, and they have been found in an almost comical range of products.

The nickname forever chemicals comes from their persistence, they do not easily degrade.

Not every level of PFAS exposure will lead to health issues but research has suggested that high levels may be linked to birth defects, liver damage, reduced immunity and even cancer.

'PFAS exposure is rarely from just one item, it accumulates from clusters of low-level contact across so many different things,' Dr Sabine Donnai, a GP, specialist in preventative healthcare and founder of private London clinic Viavi, says.

'It is our total toxic load that causes the burden on our health.'

Luckily, however, there are some obvious places to start to reduce your levels.

According to two leading experts, there are six common household favourites that are little known carriers of PFAS — and cheap hacks to slash them.

Experts have also long warned that many types of non-stick pans contain PFAS and if the pans are overheated or chipped, chemicals could make their way from the coating into food.

Non-stick pans

Experts have also long warned that certain types of non-stick pans contain PFAS and if the pans are overheated or chipped, chemicals could make their way from the coating into food.

PFAS, particularly PFOA, were historically used to make PTFE coatings such as Teflon,' Dr Federica Amati, a research fellow at Imperial College London and head nutritionist at ZOE, says.

'When used at normal cooking temperatures, these pans release very little PFAS, and exposures typically remain well below established safety thresholds.

'However, when overheated to temperatures above 260°C, emissions increase.

'For most households, the greatest benefit comes from avoiding very high heat and replacing pans once they become damaged.'

Experts also advise replacing pans with a label that says 'PFAS-free' and 'PTFE free'.

If a product says PFOA-free or PFC-free, that refers to the tiny number of forever chemicals that are globally banned. It doesn't cover the thousands of others.

'cheaper cookware is more likely to use fluorinated coatings that degrade faster and pans that are scratched remain a source of exposure to PFAS,' Dr Donnai adds.

'So "PFAS-free" alone is not sufficient — avoid PTFE based coatings as well. It is safest is to use ceramic, enameled cast iron, carbon steel, or stainless steel.'

Historically chemicals including PFAS have been added to make up products to make them last longer, improve finish and preserve the colour of eyeshadows and lipsticks.

Waterproof makeup

Makeup is meant to add a glowing topcoat to skin.

And yet, the ugly truth is, some beauty brands in the UK are selling makeup containing forever chemicals.

Long-wear foundations, water proof mascara- liquid lipsticks and sunscreens are the biggest culprits.

They often contain contain both long- and short-chain PFAS and because the chemicals can be absorbed by the skin, the risk increases if used daily.

Many brands have already opted to make their products PFAS free.

But a BBC investigation in 2023 found PFAS in lipstick, eyeshadow, foundation and mascara made by brands including Urban Decay, a subsidiary of L'Oréal – which in 2018 claimed they had phased out PFAS from their products.

'Often the word PFAS is not used,' Dr Donnai says.

'So look for anything containing "fluoro" in the ingredients or just if it's marketed as waterproof, smudge proof or long lasting.'

Your favourite sports bra or well-worn pair of leggings is likely to be made from synthetic fabrics, which often have water-repellant coatings, formulated with PFAS.

Leggings

When you're in a workout class, you're more likely going to focused on pushing through until the end of the session than what's in your workout clothing.

But your favourite sports bra or well-worn pair of leggings is likely to be made from synthetic fabrics, which often have water-repellant coatings, formulated with PFAS.

One 2023 study by researchers at the University of Birmingham found that microplastics in certain clothing 'may leach out into sweat and become available for dermal absorption'.

'Clothing marketed as stain-resistant or water-repellent — including popular activewear — frequently contains PFAS,' Dr Amati said.

'Absorption can increase when skin is warm or sweaty, and children may be more vulnerable because they have greater skin-surface exposure relative to body size.

'Opting for untreated fabrics is a practical way to minimise risk.'

Over the past few years, as awareness of forever chemicals has grown, a number of major brands have looked to remove PFAS.

These include Levi, Benneton, Zara, Uniqlo, H&M, Adidas, Reebok and M&S.

For kids, Frugi, Tesco's F&F brand and Primark also say they are PFAS-free.

The average Briton consumes around 127 rolls of toilet tissue per year, making the UK one of the highest consumers in the world. But even loo paper cannot escape the threat of PFAS.

Toilet roll

The average Briton consumes around 127 rolls of toilet tissue per year, making the UK one of the highest per capita consumers in the world.

But even loo paper cannot escape the threat of PFAS, often used to make it more durable.

A 2023 study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology Letters found PFAS in most brands of toilet paper sold around the world.

This is because toilet paper is often made from recycled food packaging which contained PFAS.

The bleaching process or the surfants can also add forever chemicals.

'The exposure is small but about 50 per cent of recycled toilet papers had detectable PFAS — especially the super soft or super strong papers,' Dr Donnai says.

Dr Amati adds: 'Although each contact is brief, repeated daily use means these products can contribute to our cumulative exposure.'

Experts recommend choosing PFAS free toilet roll by looking out for the 'tested PFAS-free' stamp of approval.

Fabrics especially are notorious spreaders of PFAS in the air, eventually settling on carpets and flooring.

Carpets

If PFAS are in your home through cooking equipment, clothing, personal care products and electronics — and they are — they're not going to stay put.

Fabrics especially are notorious spreaders of PFAS in the air, eventually settling on carpets and flooring.

And what gets into the air and flooring around you can get into your lungs.

'Carpets also treated for stain resistance are a major PFAS source in the home,' Dr Amati says.

'They can both release PFAS into dust and act as long-term reservoirs.

'Studies link higher PFAS levels in blood to regular contact with these carpets, especially low-pile varieties.'

To combat the issue, experts recommend saving money and don't take out the additional stain-proofing option when buying a carpet, unless their is a guaranteed PFAS-free option.

When buying carpets and sofas, save money and don’t take out the additional stain-proofing option unless there is a guaranteed PFAS-free option.

People can be exposed to PFAS through ingesting dust that has been in contact with products such as carpets so vacumming or keeping the floor clean as much as possible equally, reduces the risk.

'Household dust is by far the biggest exposure of PFAS in the home especially for children,' Dr Donnai says.

Household dust

It's not just carpet dust, however, that poses a forever chemicals risk.

One 2022 study published in the journal Current Environmental Health Reports assessed compounds found in dust, where they may come from, as well as their potential implications for human health.

The Yale University scientists found PFAS were ubiquitous both in the air and on surfaces.

Settled dust, the researchers stress, is especially dangerous for children, who spend extended time on floors where they may inhale or ingest the PFAS-contamination.

'Household dust is by far the biggest exposure of PFAS in the home especially for children — crawling on the carpets, close to mattresses and sofas, shedding form electronics, and food packaging residues,' Dr Donnai adds.

One straightforward solution is to keep your house as clean as possible.

'Ventilate rooms, use a HEPA vacuum filter, avoid dry dusting and use wet cloths, avoid stain and water resistant carpets, sofas and tablet cloths,' she adds.

So how else can I reduce my PFAS levels cheaply?

What we know about PFAS and health is still evolving, and only a few compounds out of more than 4,000 have been reviewed for potential health impacts.

But experts agree that it does take years for PFAS to be fully eliminated out of the body.

They are mostly filtered by the kidneys, meaning they leave the body slowly through urine, although PFAS are also known to come out in menstrual blood.

One easy dietary switch that research has found reduces PFAS levels involves increasing fibre intake.

Research has found eating more oats, barley, beans, nuts and seeds, or taking supplements of gel-forming fibre, effectively reduces PFOS and PFOA — two of the most common and dangerous PFAS.

Experts also advise reducing PFAS exposure by limiting contact with food packaging including take away containers and greaseproof or plastic food packaging.

The European Commission is consulting on an outright ban on about 10,000 PFAS chemicals.

The UK government has already banned certain PFAS like PFOA and says it is looking to ban or restrict other chemicals but it has not committed to a blanket ban.

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