By Benjamin Hoover, Student Pharmacist and Karen Kier, Pharmacist
On behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

On April 7, 2003, Shania Twain released her single Forever and For Always, which peaked at number 4 on the Country Music charts.  Twain has sold over 100 million records and is considered one of the top female country artists of all time. She is still active in the music industry and finished her third Las Vegas residency in 2025. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017 and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2022. 

Forever and For Always is about a timeless and lasting commitment to a relationship with a positive outlook. Unfortunately, PFAS chemicals have a lasting negative relationship to health. 

PFAS stands for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which are known as forever chemicals. There are thousands of PFAS used in manufacturing, and they have been available since the 1940s. One characteristic of the PFAS is that they break down very slowly and can build up in people, animals and the environment. 

PFAS are chemicals found in a variety of daily products such as dyes, non-stick pans, waterproof gear, sportswear, food packaging and personal care products. PFAS can be found in contaminated drinking water because they are able to resist water, heat, and oil, which makes them useful for many different applications. Although PFAS are present in clothing, dyes, and skin products, the amount that can be absorbed through the skin is very small. Therefore, health risks associated with PFAS typically come from cookware, food packaging and drinking water.

Due to the concern of PFAS and health, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a statement on February 10, 2026, titled “Our Current Understanding of the Human Health and Environmental Risks of PFAS”. The report can be found on the EPA website HERE..

PFAS chemicals have been linked to various health conditions, such as kidney and testicular cancer and liver and kidney damage. Due to this association, research is being conducted on the specific impacts of PFAS on our health. Recently, researchers evaluated data combining 79 different studies, which focused on the effects of PFAS on blood glucose and diabetes risk. The combined data showed a 13-23% higher risk of gestational diabetes (high blood sugars during pregnancy). In addition, there was an association of PFAS increasing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but not enough to determine it as a direct cause.

As a result of these findings and additional studies, it appears that finding ways to reduce exposure to PFAs is beneficial for our overall health. The best way to reduce exposure to PFAS is to limit contact with them. Using water filters designed to remove PFAS can help lower the amount in drinking water. The EPA website has recommendations on PFAS eliminating filters for water. Some public drinking water systems test for PFAS, so you can contact your provider if concerned. Another way to reduce PFAS exposure is by avoiding nonstick pots and pans and instead using stainless steel, cast iron or glass. Avoid packaging known for PFAS, such as microwave popcorn bags or grease-resistant paper. Reducing exposure to plastic packaging for foods can be helpful. 

Some things should not be forever and for always, such as PFAS in our food and drinking water.