Non-stick cookware is the most widely recognized source of PFAS in the home. The coating is typically polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). PTFE itself is relatively stable at normal cooking temperatures. The risk increases significantly above 500°F, when the coating begins to degrade and release fluorinated gases. Scratched or worn pans present a more direct risk — coating fragments flake directly into food.

• Replace pans that are scratched, chipping, or discolored.
• Cook on low to medium heat. Never pre-heat an empty non-stick pan.
• Avoid “PFOA-free” claims as a safety signal. Most use replacement PFAS compounds.
• Choose cast iron, stainless steel, or ceramic cookware verified as PFAS-free.
• Minnesota banned PFAS in cookware as of January 1, 2025. Maine, Colorado, Connecticut, and Illinois follow 2026–2028.

In February 2024, the FDA confirmed U.S. manufacturers had stopped selling PFAS-based grease-proofing agents for paper and paperboard food packaging. This does not cover imported packaging, plastic containers, or non-paper materials. Studies show that people who frequently eat microwave popcorn have measurably elevated PFAS blood levels.

• Transfer food out of packaging before microwaving whenever possible.
• Avoid microwave popcorn bags. Make stovetop popcorn instead.
• At least 15 states have enacted enforceable bans on PFAS in food packaging.

PFAS appear in cosmetics as film-forming agents in long-wear foundations, waterproof mascara, lip gloss, and setting sprays. The primary exposure route is dermal absorption, particularly through mucous membranes around the lips and eyes. Washington State banned PFAS-containing cosmetics as of January 1, 2025.

• Search your products on the EWG Skin Deep database at ewg.org/skindeep.
• Look for PFAS-free labeling, not just PFOA-free.
• Flag any ingredient with “fluoro” in the name: fluoropolymer, PTFE, polytetrafluoroethylene, perfluoro.

Durable water repellent (DWR) finishes on rain jackets and ski gear historically used long-chain PFAS. The industry shifted to short-chain alternatives after PFOA and PFOS were phased out, but short-chain compounds carry their own persistence concerns. Exposure occurs through skin contact and through microfibers shed during washing.

• Look for PFC-free or PFAS-free DWR certification from bluesign, OEKO-TEX, Nikwax, or Grangers.
• Wash outdoor gear less frequently and with PFAS-free detergent to reduce microfiber shedding.
• Patagonia, REI (since Fall 2024), and Arc’teryx are phasing out PFAS DWR.

A 2019 study found that women who used PTFE-coated floss had higher blood levels of PFHxS compared to women who did not. Exposure occurs through absorption through gum tissue with daily use. Minnesota banned PFAS in dental floss as of January 1, 2025. Maine and Colorado follow in 2026.

• Switch to uncoated nylon floss, silk floss, or a water flosser.
• Avoid any floss listing PTFE or polytetrafluoroethylene on the packaging.
• The floss swap is one of the easiest and lowest-cost PFAS reductions available.