Forever Chemicals Are in Your Body – Here’s Why That Matters

They’re real, they’re everywhere, and almost certainly inside you right now!

They sound like something from a dystopian sci-fi novel — forever chemicals. But they’re not fiction. They’re real, they’re everywhere, and almost certainly inside you right now.

Photo by Rob Wicks on Unsplash

What Are Forever Chemicals?

“Forever chemicals” refer to PFAS — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — a group of more than 10,000 synthetic chemicals prized for one main thing: they don’t break down. They’re highly resistant to heat, water, oil, and chemical reactions — which is great for industrial uses, but terrible for human health and the environment.

Why Did We Use Them in the First Place?

PFAS were invented in the 1940s and became a commercial success because of their superpowers: non-stick properties (like in Teflon pans), water resistance (raincoats, boots, umbrellas), oil and stain repellence (upholstery, carpets, fast-food wrappers), fire suppression (firefighting foam), and cosmetic longevity (long-wear makeup, waterproof mascara). For decades, these chemicals made our lives easier, cleaner, and more convenient. The problem is that they don’t go away — not from our bodies, our soils, or our water systems.

How Widespread Is the Exposure?

Widespread is putting it mildly. In Australia, around 85% of people have PFAS in their blood. In the United States, the CDC found PFAS in 97 to 100% of Americans tested. In Europe, up to 20% of teenagers have blood levels above safety guidelines. In Asia, research shows that some populations have among the highest PFAS levels, especially in industrial regions and among immigrants in Western countries. PFAS have been detected in rainwater, breastmilk, soil, seafood, and even polar ice. This isn’t just a local issue — it’s a global crisis.

What Do They Do to Our Health?

PFAS don’t cause obvious symptoms overnight (which was why they silently infiltrated our lives). Instead, they quietly accumulate, disrupting biological systems over time. The key danger is chronic, low-level inflammation and hormonal disruption. Health risks associated with PFAS include neurodevelopmental issues (especially in children), thyroid disease, immune dysfunction including reduced vaccine response, chronic inflammation, hormonal imbalances including fertility issues and early menopause, cancer (particularly kidney, testicular, prostate, and liver), heart disease and high cholesterol, and liver damage that may contribute to obesity and diabetes. Even small amounts over time can build up and cause harm — especially in vulnerable groups like children, pregnant women, and those with chronic illness.

Why This Needs More Attention

What makes PFAS so concerning is that they are almost impossible to avoid. Even people who are making healthy lifestyle choices — cooking fresh meals, eating whole foods, avoiding processed snacks — can still unknowingly be exposed. For example, using a non-stick pan can transfer PFAS directly into your otherwise healthy meal. And it doesn’t stop there: your salad might come from soil that’s been irrigated with PFAS-contaminated water. Your water bottle might have traces. Your skincare might include ingredients that increase your body burden. This is why we can’t afford to ignore it. You don’t need to live in fear, but we all need to be more aware — because PFAS exposure isn’t about “bad habits.” It’s about the invisible parts of modern life we’ve normalised.

Photo by Lanju Fotografie on Unsplash

The Inflammation Connection

PFAS don’t act like poisons in the traditional sense — they are cellular disruptors. They interfere with signalling pathways, immune responses, and oxidative balance, all of which drive chronic low-grade inflammation. This is the kind of inflammation that doesn’t make headlines but leads to autoimmune diseases, accelerated ageing, gut issues, mood and energy fluctuations, and skin conditions like eczema and rosacea. Inflammation is the slow burn behind most of the modern diseases we fear. That’s why managing it — and reducing what feeds it — is crucial.

Can Antioxidants Help?

Your body has powerful repair systems, but they need support. Phenolic antioxidants, found in apples, olives, berries, and other plants, can neutralise free radicals, reduce inflammation, support the liver (which is key for detoxifying PFAS), and help protect cells from DNA damage. Antioxidants won’t flush PFAS out directly, but they do help reduce the downstream damage, especially as part of a long-term anti-inflammatory lifestyle.

What About Your Skin?

You can absorb PFAS through your skin — especially from personal care products. A 2024 study confirmed that certain cosmetics, especially waterproof or long-wear formulas, allow PFAS to penetrate the skin barrier and enter the bloodstream. Over time, this adds to your body’s chemical load. That’s why skincare isn’t just about beauty — it’s also about protection. Look for PFAS-free skincare, formulas that support the skin barrier (such as those with ceramides and antioxidants), and minimalist ingredient lists that avoid unnecessary chemicals. A good-quality cream or serum can act like a shield, reinforcing your skin’s natural defence against environmental pollutants, including airborne PFAS.

How to Reduce Your Exposure

You can’t avoid PFAS entirely, but you can reduce your load. Here’s how: ditch non-stick cookware (especially if it’s scratched), avoid waterproof or stain-resistant clothing and furniture, check your cosmetics and skincare for PFAS-free labels, filter your tap water using systems certified to remove PFAS, eat low on the food chain with more plants and fewer animal fats, support your skin with protective, clean skincare, limit processed and packaged foods (especially greasy takeaway wrappers), and choose safer cleaning and household products.

TLDR

Forever chemicals (PFAS) are in most of our bodies and don’t break down — hence the name. They’re linked to cancer, hormone disruption, immune problems, and chronic inflammation. You can’t completely avoid them, but you can reduce exposure and support your body with antioxidants, clean products, and protective skincare.

We can’t change the past — but we can protect the future, starting with the skin we live in. Your body’s fighting a chemical storm every day. The least we can do is have its back.