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PFAS Compounds: When Toilet Paper Becomes an Invisible Threat
Millions of people use it daily without realizing they're flushing "forever chemicals" into the environment: A recent study shows that commercial toilet paper is an unrecognized source of PFAS compounds – with far-reaching consequences for humans and the environment.
Imagine going to the toilet and unknowingly contributing to the global spread of chemicals that will never disappear from the environment. What sounds like a science fiction scenario is already reality: Researchers at the University of Florida have proven in a groundbreaking study that toilet paper worldwide contains PFAS compounds and they directly enter wastewater systems when flushed.
What are PFAS and why are they so problematic?
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of over 10,000 synthetic chemicals that have been industrially manufactured since the 1940s. These compounds are also called "forever chemicals" because they don't break down through normal chemical, physical, or biological processes. Their unique properties –water-, grease-, and stain-resistance, as well as heat- and chemical-resistance – make them extremely valuable to industry.
The downside of these useful properties is their extreme persistence. PFAS can accumulate in humans, animals, and the environment for years. Scientific studies link exposure to certain PFAS compounds with various health problems, including:
- Elevated cholesterol levels
- Weakening of the immune system
- Developmental disorders in children
- Increased cancer risk (especially kidney and testicular cancer)
- Hormonal disorders
- Reduced vaccine efficacy
A recent study by USC Keck School of Medicine, published in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, shows that communities with PFAS-contaminated drinking water have up to 33% higher incidence of certain cancers.
The surprising discovery: PFAS in toilet paper
The study by Jake Thompson and his team at the University of Florida, published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters, revealed a surprising finding: Toilet paper from around the world contains small amounts of PFAS, particularly 6:2 fluorotelomer phosphate diester (6:2 diPAP), contributing to the burden of wastewater systems with "forever chemicals."
The researchers examined toilet paper rolls from North, South, and Central America, Africa, and Western Europe, as well as sewage sludge samples from US wastewater treatment plants. They found that toilet paper contributes about 4% of 6:2 diPAP in wastewater in the USA and Canada, 35% in Sweden, and up to 89% in France.
How do PFAS get into toilet paper?
Experts suspect that PFAS enter toilet paper during the manufacturing process, possibly through additives intended to prevent paper pulp from sticking to production machinery. Another source could be recycled paper that already contains PFAS-contaminated fibers.
Particularly concerning: An independent study by Mamavation, which tested 17 different toilet paper products in an EPA-certified laboratory, found evidence of PFAS compounds in 24% of samples. Both conventional and bamboo toilet paper were affected.
The diverse applications of PFAS
To understand the scope of the problem, it's worth looking at the sheer variety of PFAS applications. A comprehensive review study identified more than 200 application categories for over 1,400 different PFAS compounds. These chemicals are found practically everywhere:
Industrial Applications
- Automotive industry: Protection of fuel lines, seals, and batteries in electric and conventional vehicles
- Aerospace: Interference-free communication from cockpit to wings and other equipment
- Electronics: Coatings for circuit boards and semiconductors
- Textiles: Water-, dirt-, and stain-repellent coatings
Medical Applications
PFAS are essential for medical technologies such as catheters, stents, and needles, as well as for transdermal patches for drug delivery. Lifesaving COVID-19 therapeutics and common medications for anxiety or depression also contain PFAS compounds.
Consumer Products
The list of PFAS-containing everyday products is alarmingly long:
- Non-stick coatings in cookware
- Water- and stain-repellent clothing
- Cosmetics (lipstick, mascara, foundation)
- Food packaging
- Carpets and upholstery
- Firefighting foams
The EU ban procedure: A milestone in chemical protection
Given the growing knowledge about PFAS risks, the EU has initiated an unprecedented regulatory procedure. On February 7, 2023, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published a comprehensive dossier on banning approximately 10,000 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
The path to the ban
The Netherlands worked on this proposal together with Denmark, Germany, Norway, and Sweden. The ultimate goal of the restriction proposal is to ban the use of these substances to limit risks to humans and the environment.
ECHA itself describes the restriction dossier as the "most comprehensive restriction proposal under REACH so far".
The procedure runs in several phases:
- Public consultation (March to September 2023): More than 5,600 scientific and technical comments were submitted during the six-month consultation
- Scientific evaluation: ECHA's committees for risk assessment (RAC) and socio-economic analysis (SEAC) review the proposal
- Final decision: ECHA's final consolidated opinion is expected by end of 2025/early 2026
Challenges and exceptions
The planned ban faces considerable resistance. Without additional comprehensive exemption regulations, the manufacture of medicines and their active ingredients in the EU is endangered, undermining the goal of open strategic autonomy and exposing European patients to shortages in pharmaceutical product supply.
The newly identified applications during consultation include sealing applications, technical textiles, medical applications, and printing applications. Fluoropolymers, a subgroup of PFAS, have become a particular focus since alternatives don't exist yet for many of their applications.
Global impacts
PFAS contamination has long become a global problem. Studies show that approximately 19 billion pounds of PFAS are flushed directly into our waterways annually, mainly through products like toilet paper.
Water contamination on a global scale
The dimension of PFAS contamination is alarming:
- USA: A USGS study estimates that 71 to 95 million people – more than 20% of the US population – may rely on groundwater containing detectable PFAS concentrations for their drinking water supply, with , and an EWG analysis found PFAS contamination at nearly 1,400 sites in 49 US states
- Europe: The Forever Pollution Project estimates there are about 23,000 PFAS-contaminated sites in Europe; of these, about 2,300 are "hotspots" with high pollution levels
- Global: The University of Birmingham found PFOA and PFOS in 99% of bottled water samples sourced from 15 countries around the world
Particularly problematic: When products containing PFAS, like certain toilet paper brands, are flushed or disposed of in landfills, these chemicals can leach into the soil and contaminate groundwater. Wastewater treatment plants cannot effectively remove PFAS, so the chemicals enter treated water and biosolids used as fertilizer.
Current research and health risks
Scientific evidence on PFAS health risks continues to grow. A systematic evidence map for over 150 PFAS identified more than 1,000 studies investigating health or toxicological effects.
New insights on cancer risks
A groundbreaking study published in 2025 found that PFAS contamination in drinking water contributes to an estimated 6,864 cancer cases per year. The study showed gender-specific differences:
- Men: Higher incidence of leukemia and cancers of the urogenital system, brain, and soft tissue
- Women: Higher incidence of thyroid, oral and throat cancers, and soft tissue cancer
Effects on lung health
A recent review summarizes evidence for PFAS effects on lung health, including:
- Impaired fetal lung development
- Reduced immune function in children
- Possible links to lung cancer
What can consumers do?
Given the ubiquity of PFAS, the situation may seem hopeless, but there are definitely options for action:
Conscious product choices
- Choose PFAS-free alternatives: When buying toilet paper, consumers should opt for unbleached or Total Chlorine Free (TCF) products and prefer bamboo or recycled materials
- Check cosmetics: Avoid products with "perfluor-", "polyfluor-" and "PTFE" on the label
- Avoid water- and stain-repellent clothing: These often contain PFAS coatings
Water testing and treatment
- Test drinking water: PFAS can be removed from drinking water through carbon filtration and reverse osmosis
- Use certified filter systems: Treatment systems certified by the National Sanitation Foundation
Support regulatory measures
- Ask companies to remove PFAS from their products
- Support political initiatives for stricter regulation
- Raise awareness about the issue among family and friends
Conclusion: A no longer quite so silent environmental scandal
The discovery of PFAS in toilet paper is more than just another environmental horror story – it exemplifies how deeply these "forever chemicals" have already penetrated our daily lives. While the PFAS amounts found in toilet paper and wastewater were small, the study shows that in some countries, toilet paper represents a major source of PFAS in wastewater treatment systems.
The EU ban procedure marks an important turning point in dealing with these problematic chemicals. But the path to a PFAS-free future will be long and rocky. Industry warns of economic disadvantages, while environmental and health experts demand an immediate departure from non-essential PFAS applications.
Scientific evidence clearly shows: PFAS pose a serious threat to human health and the environment. The current studies on cancer risks, immunosuppression, and developmental disorders underscore the urgency of action.
One thing is clear: The era of unrestricted use of "forever chemicals" is coming to an end. The question is no longer whether PFAS will be regulated, but how quickly and comprehensively this will happen. Until then, every trip to the toilet continues to flush invisible chemicals into an environment that will never get rid of them again.
Further information on PFAS regulation and current developments can be found on the websites of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the US Environmental Protection Agency, and the German Federal Environment Agency.
