Forever Chemicals, Forgotten Communities: PFAS, Brain Health & Environmental Justice

PFAS are man-made chemicals celebrated by industry for their durability and resistance to water, grease, and heat. They are found in nonstick cookware, waterproof fabrics, stain-resistant carpets, fast food packaging, firefighting foams, and hundreds of everyday products. Their resilience, however, comes with a dangerous downside: PFAS do not break down in the environment, accumulating in soil, water, and living organisms — including the human body. They have been detected in the blood of most Americans. And new research is showing that some of them are crossing the blood-brain barrier and altering brain function in ways that should concern all of us.

What Happens When PFAS Reach the Brain

A landmark study exposed mice to drinking water containing a mixture of 17 PFAS compounds at concentrations similar to those found near contamination sites. The findings were alarming. Compounds including PFPeA, PFHpA, 6:2 FTS, and PFOS accumulated in the brain at higher levels than in the blood, confirming their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier — the brain’s primary defense system.

The biological impact was measurable. Neurotransmitter levels including glutamate and tryptophan were significantly reduced, impairing synaptic signaling and emotional regulation. The hippocampus — the brain region most central to memory and learning — showed structural damage and neuronal death. These physical alterations aligned with observed behavioral deficits: memory impairment, increased anxiety, reduced exploration.

For human populations, the implications extend further. One human study found that elevated levels of PFOA in the blood of pregnant women were linked to an increased likelihood of autistic traits in their children by age four — with effects notably stronger in boys with a genetic predisposition to autism. Children, with their developing brains and bodies, may be among the most vulnerable to PFAS exposure. And the communities with the least political power to demand clean water and remediation are the ones absorbing the most.

Environmental Racism Is Not an Abstraction

PFAS contamination from military bases has polluted drinking water in communities across the country — from Fayetteville, North Carolina to Tucson, Arizona to communities surrounding Camp Lejeune. The residents living with contaminated water for decades have been disproportionately Black, Indigenous, and low-income. They were not informed. They were not protected. And when they organized to demand accountability, they were met with delays, denials, and bureaucratic delay tactics that continue today.

Enforceable limits on PFAS in drinking water, initially prioritized, have been repeatedly postponed — with current enforcement now scheduled for 2031. Budget reductions have hampered EPA research. Legal battles from chemical manufacturers have contested new standards in court. The combination of financial, political, and legal roadblocks has created a significant bottleneck — and the communities breathing and drinking contamination do not have until 2031 to wait.

Ubuntu philosophy holds that the health of the individual cannot be separated from the health of the community, and the health of the community cannot be separated from the health of the land. When the land is poisoned, the people are poisoned. The restoration of community health requires the restoration of environmental health — and that is a political task as much as a personal one.

Protecting Yourself and Demanding More

Test your water. If you live near a military base, industrial site, or airport, test your drinking water for PFAS. Many states offer free or low-cost testing. The EPA’s PFAS resources page includes guidance on testing and filtration options.

Filter if contaminated. Activated carbon and reverse osmosis filters can remove many PFAS compounds from drinking water. Look for filters certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 58 or 53.

Reduce product exposure. Avoid nonstick cookware, stain-resistant fabric treatments, and fast food containers when possible. Check personal care products and dental floss for PFAS ingredients. Choose PFAS-free alternatives where available.

Organize and advocate. Individual reduction matters. Community organizing matters more. Connect with local environmental justice organizations. Support legislation that holds chemical manufacturers accountable. Show up for the communities that have been living with this contamination the longest — because the fight for clean water is an Ubuntu fight: I am because we are, and none of us are well until all of us are well.

Sources & References

• Han, X., et al. Neurotoxic effects of PFAS mixture exposure in mice. Journal of Hazardous Materials. sciencedirect.com
• University at Buffalo. These 11 genes may help us better understand forever chemicals’ effects on the brain. (2025). buffalo.edu
• U.S. EPA. Our Current Understanding of the Human Health and Environmental Risks of PFAS. epa.gov
• ATSDR. How PFAS Impacts Your Health. atsdr.cdc.gov
• NIEHS. PFAS Research. niehs.nih.gov

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