Why Are PFAS Still Used in Drugs When Alternatives Exist?
- Researchers identified 111 PFAS-containing active ingredients used in human medicines and found that 87% already have a PFAS-free alternative available, with alternatives in development for nearly all of the rest, challenging the idea that these "forever chemicals" are required in modern pharmaceuticals
- Fluorine is usually added to medicines to improve stability or how they move through your body, not because it provides the medicine's therapeutic effect, meaning many drugs could deliver the same benefits without PFAS
- More than 80% of the PFAS-containing medicines examined break down into trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a highly persistent environmental contaminant that's extremely difficult to remove once it reaches rivers, lakes and drinking water
- Your PFAS exposure comes from many sources, including medications, nonstick cookware, food packaging, stain-resistant products, and drinking water, so reducing unnecessary exposure across several areas of your life lowers your cumulative lifetime burden
- If you need prescription medication, asking whether an equally effective PFAS-free alternative is available is one practical way to reduce exposure while supporting the development and use of medicines designed with fewer persistent chemicals
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