A new study published in Environmental Science and Technology Letters on Wednesday (1 March) reveals that toilet paper is an unexpected source of potentially harmful “permanent chemicals” in wastewater worldwide.
According to the Central News Agency, PFAS can be found as “permanent chemicals” in various products, including makeup, waterproof clothing, and non-stick cookware. Many forms of cancer, cardiovascular disease, infertility, and childhood developmental disorders have all been linked to these chemicals.
A new study published on 2 February found that toilet paper should be considered a potential primary source of PFAS in wastewater treatment systems, even though AFP reports that the synthetic chemicals are found in soils and waters worldwide.
Since these chemicals can cause harm, researchers have deemed it “critical” to reduce PFAS levels in wastewater.
According to the study’s findings in Environmental Science and Technology Letters, “Reusing wastewater and sludge for irrigation and other land applications is a significant pathway of human and environmental exposure. PFAS pathways are a potential threat to human health and the environment.”
Small amounts of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may contaminate the final toilet paper product because some manufacturers intentionally add PFAS during the wood-to-pulp conversion.
Based on the results of this study, PFAS-containing fibers are also used to produce recycled toilet paper.
Samples of toilet paper were collected from November 2021 through August 2022 for the study. Effluent samples from American wastewater treatment plants were collected alongside toilet paper rolls from North America, Latin America, Africa, and Western Europe.
As a result of their long half-lives in both the environment and living organisms, PFAS has been labeled a “permanent chemical” since its invention in the 1940s.
Although total avoidance is unlikely, non-stick cookware, stain- and water-resistant materials, and inadequate water filtration systems can all contribute to unnecessary exposure to PFAS.
