(NaturalHealth365)  PFAS – per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – contaminate drinking water systems serving millions of Americans, yet most people have no idea they’re consuming these “forever chemicals” with every glass of tap water.

These substances don’t break down in the environment or in your body, accumulating instead over decades of exposure.

Research links these toxins to thyroid dysfunction, liver damage, immune suppression, hormonal disruption, and increased cancer risk across all ages.  Now, new research from the University of Arizona reveals just how dangerous this contamination really is.

Research uncovers an unexpected factor driving infant mortality

Tracking New Hampshire births from 2010-2019, researchers found that mothers whose wells were downstream of PFAS-contaminated sites had nearly triple the infant mortality rate compared to mothers with upstream wells.  These mothers had similar health habits or medical histories – the only difference was which direction groundwater flowed beneath their homes.  Mothers downstream of contamination had 191% higher infant mortality, 168% more extremely preterm births, and 180% more dangerously low birth weights.

PFAS were originally developed for protective coatings that resist heat, oil, and water, and now appear in products ranging from nonstick cookware to waterproof clothing to firefighting foam.  They earned their “forever” label because they persist indefinitely, accumulating in soil, water, and human tissue.

Why cleanup remains stalled while contamination spreads

The technology to remove PFAS from drinking water already exists.  Activated carbon filters can eliminate these chemicals, whether installed by water utilities or in individual homes.  The solution is available right now.

So why hasn’t it been implemented?  While regulatory agencies debate costs and utilities claim removal would be way too expensive, contamination continues spreading through groundwater.

Meanwhile, another generation drinks contaminated water daily, accumulating chemicals that won’t leave their bodies for decades. Every year that municipalities delay action represents another year of preventable infant deaths, preterm births, and lifelong health consequences.

Natural strategies to reduce PFAS exposure and support detoxification

While systemic cleanup remains critical, you can take immediate action to reduce exposure and support your body’s elimination of accumulated PFAS.

Filter your drinking water effectively: Install high-quality activated-carbon or reverse-osmosis systems.  Standard pitcher filters won’t adequately remove PFAS.  Ensure filters are certified for PFAS removal and replace them according to manufacturer specifications.  This matters especially for pregnant women and young children.

Eliminate PFAS sources from your home: Replace nonstick cookware with stainless steel or ceramic.  Avoid stain-resistant treatments on furniture and carpets, and skip microwave popcorn bags and grease-resistant food packaging.  Choose PFAS-free dental floss and personal care products.

Support liver detoxification pathways: Your liver processes and eliminates chemical toxins, including PFAS.  Support phase I and phase II detoxification with organic cruciferous vegetables rich in sulforaphane, organic garlic and onions providing sulfur compounds, milk thistle and dandelion root supporting liver cell regeneration, and N-acetylcysteine boosting glutathione production.

Enhance bile flow to eliminate PFAS: PFAS primarily exit the body through bile and stool.  Support bile production and flow with bitter greens like arugula and dandelion, adequate healthy fats from organic sources, vitamin C supporting bile acid synthesis, and taurine enhancing bile conjugation.

Bind and remove toxins in the digestive tract: Prevent PFAS reabsorption by consuming adequate fiber from organic vegetables and flaxseed; use activated charcoal between meals to bind toxins; use chlorella to support heavy metal and chemical elimination; and use modified citrus pectin to bind toxins for excretion.

Why comprehensive detoxification requires expert guidance

PFAS are only one toxin among thousands accumulating in your body from air pollution, food contamination, personal care products, household chemicals, and environmental exposure.  Your detoxification systems face constant assault from multiple sources simultaneously, creating a toxic burden that Western medicine ignores completely until disease manifests.

Get access to Jonathan Landsman’s Whole Body Detox Summit, featuring 27 holistic experts, researchers, and doctors sharing what you need to know to safely eliminate toxins.  Learn how to prepare your body before detoxing to avoid making yourself sicker, proven strategies for removing heavy metals and chemicals that actually work, which functional tests reveal your real toxic burden, and why EMF exposure might be blocking your body’s ability to detoxify.  These experts are teaching systematic approaches to remove the specific toxins that research has proven cause disease.

Bottom line: PFAS contamination in drinking water creates an immeasurable amount of harm, affecting infant mortality, birth outcomes, immune function, cancer risk, and chronic disease across all ages.  Cleanup costs represent a fraction of ongoing health damage, yet implementation lags while contamination spreads.

Protect yourself immediately by installing certified PFAS filters, eliminating PFAS sources, supporting liver and bile function, and implementing comprehensive detoxification protocols to address the total toxic burden.

Sources for this article include:

Arizona.edu
Pnas.org