When I went to the clinic to get my blood tested, all I could think about was how to not look like a wimp in front of the camera. I didn't even think about what the test would show.
I'm not very good with needles, but as part of a BBC Panorama investigation into so-called forever chemicals, I was tested to see what levels were in my blood. As a mother of two young children, I also wanted to know if they could affect my family.
Forever chemicals, or PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), are a group of about 10,000 chemicals. They have been used for decades in everything from waterproof clothing to cookware, electronics and medical equipment.
They are persistent pollutants, meaning they do not break down easily but accumulate in the environment.
They exist in our homes, our water and our food.
Scientists have linked a small number of them to serious harms such as infertility and cancer.
Any level of PFAS above 2 ng (nanograms) per milliliter of blood is considered a health hazard, according to Dr. Sabine Donnai, a preventative health specialist. She had never met anyone who didn't have at least some PFAS in their blood.
My result was 9.8 ng per milliliter.
Dr. Donnai delivered the news very gently, but it still hit me hard.
The constant chemicals in my blood would “likely” have an impact on my health, she said.
I also learned that, unfortunately, my body got rid of some of these chemicals during pregnancy, passing them on to my children.
This was the moment when the investigation stopped being just a job and became very personal.
“They [PFAS levels] before your pregnancy it would have been even higher,” Dr. Donnai told me.
“You will definitely pass this on to your children.”
I was worried but also angry at how this could have happened without my knowledge and very little control.
I wanted to learn more about these substances and the health problems they are associated with.
PFAS chemicals “don't biodegrade,” says Stephanie Metzger of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
“Once they enter our bodies, they stay there and gradually accumulate until they begin to interfere with our systems.
“Some PFAS are linked to thyroid problems, some are linked to kidney and liver cancer, and some have been shown to affect fertility.”
For me, it is “unlikely” that I will be able to get my levels to zero, Dr. Donnai said.
“But you can reduce it over the next two or three years with strategy.”
She suggested that I increase my fiber intake—either eat more oats, barley, beans, nuts, and seeds, or take a gelling fiber supplement. Increasing the amount of fiber in our diets is “the strongest evidence to date that it can help,” she said.
“If I did this, menstruation would also help reduce current PFAS levels over time,” she added.
She also advised me to identify the main sources of exposure in my home: replacing nonstick cookware with ceramic, stainless steel, or cast iron cookware alternatives, using a water filter, and switching to environmentally friendly cleaning products that do not contain PFAS.
Look for makeup and hair care products that don't contain PFAS, and avoid ingredients with the words “fluoride” or “PTFE” in their names, she added.
Similar advice was given to mum-to-be Pam Kavanagh, whom we visited at home in Berkshire with Dr Federica Amati from Imperial College London.
Pam was eager to know how to reduce potential household risks posed by PFAS to her baby, and Dr. Amati looked into how infants and children might be affected by the chemicals.
“When we drink tap water, depending on where you live, we are exposed to different levels of PFAS,” Dr. Amati said.
Simply purchasing a water filter can help reduce exposure, she says, whether it's a filter pitcher or a filter installed in the sink.
Any nonstick pans that are scratched should be thrown away, Dr. Amati advised.
Stainless steel or ceramic pans are “much safer,” she said.
Carpets can be treated with PFAS to make them more stain-resistant, she added, advising people to vacuum their carpets every day.
“It’s a good idea to ventilate the room by opening the windows every day. [because] it actually collects like house dust,” she added.
Dr. Amati then turned to children's clothing. Pam was left speechless when she discovered that waterproof or stain-resistant clothing could contain PFAS. Manufacturers are not required to disclose this information.
Some children's products do not contain PFAS despite claiming to be, the BBC has learned.
We found PFAS in a baby coat we purchased from the Mountain Warehouse website a few months ago, even though the site says none of the baby products are made with forever chemicals.
The jacket we tested was made from a small batch of old stock from more than three years ago, Mountain Warehouse told the BBC.
Although the coat “meets British safety standards”, the company added, the product has now been withdrawn from sale.
The company said it is working to “eliminate PFAS from all products as quickly as possible” and that “children's clothing produced starting in 2023 contains no PFAS.”
If fabrics containing PFAS come into “prolonged contact with human skin”, there is a possibility that the chemicals could be absorbed through the skin, explained Professor Stuart Harrad from the University of Birmingham, who tested the coats for us.
To reduce the risk, choose untreated fabrics and avoid “water-resistant” or “stain-resistant” labels unless they are certified PFAS-free, Dr. Donnai says.
According to the European Food Safety Authority, the greatest lifetime exposure to chemicals comes from food, especially fish, meat, eggs, fruit and fruit products.
I learned that innocent-looking strawberries could be exposed to PFAS because the chemicals can be added to pesticides “to help them stick to the fruit better so that when it rains they don't wash away,” explained Professor David Megson from Manchester Metropolitan University.
Of all the picnic items we've laid out, a bottle of wine may pose the greatest risk of PFAS, according to Professor Megson.
“We concentrate hundreds of grapes in each bottle. When the broader pesticide breaks down, some of the PFAS remains,” he said.
PFAS chemicals are so ingrained in modern life that none of us can completely avoid their exposure. They have made our lives convenient and our products durable, but we are only now beginning to calculate the potential price.
The European Commission is consulting on a complete ban on some 10,000 PFAS chemicals. The UK government says it intends to ban or restrict some chemicals, but has not committed to a complete ban. He told us he's “working at pace with regulators to assess levels of PFAS in the environment, their sources and potential risks” to determine his approach to “policy and regulation.”
PFAS chemicals have many important uses, and safer substitutes are not yet available, the Chemical Industry Association says. It says “regulators and industry need to work together to establish transition periods” to bring alternatives to market.
When I first had my blood tests done, I thought it would make an interesting scene for our documentary.
But once you know that these chemicals are inside you, you can't help but know.
Having a plan to reduce my exposure is a small consolation. But I'll be honest, that's one more thing to worry about.
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