You can’t see it, taste it, or smell it. Of course not. That would be too easy. The only way to know is to test your water—like, actually send a sample to a lab. It costs around a hundred bucks. Annoying, I know, but cheaper than a lifetime of wondering if you’re drinking Teflon juice.
If you’re on city water, your utility might have test results online. Look for “PFAS total” or “PFOA” and “PFOS.” If they say “none detected,” that’s great. If they say “levels above 4 parts per trillion,” well,… you might want to skip the tap water for a bit.
What Can You Do? (Besides Panic-Buying Bottled Water)
First, don’t panic—your body is resilient. Bottled water isn’t always safer, believe it or not. Some brands have PFAS too! Try a carbon filter like a Brita (which catches some—but not all—PFAS) or invest in a reverse osmosis system. It’s pricier, but it catches the sneaky ones.
Second, ditch non-stick pans? I know, I know—your eggs will stick. But ceramic or stainless steel are better. Third, reduce fast food wrappers. I’m sorry, but that burger paper is a PFAS delivery system. (Don’t shoot the messenger; I’m just the blog writer.)
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) - Tampa Bay Water
And here’s a fun fact: your body can detox a bit over time. Once you stop ingesting PFAS, blood levels slowly drop—though “slowly” feels like watching paint dry. So it’s not a lost cause.
