At Oceanic Society, we firmly believe that conservation begins right at home. Every aspect of our daily lives, from the food we consume to the vehicles we use, influences the health of our oceans. We are committed to championing individual behavior change because we understand the value of collective action taken to scale. Rather than relying on a small fraction of the population to achieve 100% sustainability in their daily lives, our aim is to inspire 100% of people to make even a modest 10% change. It is through collective efforts that we can effect substantial positive change for our planet.
One ocean-friendly behavior change that can be easily implemented is to take inventory of the products we use in our homes every day—cleaning supplies, personal care products, laundry detergent, and others—and weed out those that contain ingredients that may harm the ocean and its inhabitants. These include PFAS or “forever chemicals” which easily enter the environment through wastewater or even evaporation. Once there, they have the potential to disrupt ecosystems, harm marine life, and impact human health.
About Forever Chemicals (PFAS)
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of chemicals known as “forever chemicals“ due to their inability to break down in the environment and the human body, and are commonly found in household cleaning and maintenance products. They have become so widespread in our environment, that a 2022 study by Environmental Science and Technology found that these chemicals actually fall from the sky in rain, with the clouds having picked up PFAS in water evaporating from contaminated oceans. “Every raindrop has PFAS in it,” says Belcher, an associate professor at NC State University “It is really earth-shaking for me and eye-opening for folks.”
These compounds have been linked to a host of human health issues, from kidney and liver damage to reproductive and immune system dysfunction. When these chemicals find their way into our waterways, they pose a grave risk to marine life and, by extension, to us.
Bioaccumulation of PFAS in the Ocean
In the environment, many PFAS chemicals are known to bioaccumulate, magnifying in concentration as they ascend the food chain, permeating the entire fabric of the marine ecosystem. Once they enter the oceans, they can last for decades. Species at the top of the food chain, like tuna, marlin, dolphins, and sharks, accumulate these contaminants as they consume prey lower down the chain, increasing their toxicity. PFAS are linked to a wide range of health issues in wildlife, such as: seabirds with reproductive damage, immune system shutdown in mussels, tissue toxicity in dolphins, hormonal changes in polar bear brains, and so much more.
A figure showing the different ways that PFAS are known impact the health of humans and various species wildlife. Source.
Despite improvements in water treatment technology and chemical regulation, the substances remain prevalent in our rivers, lakes, ocean, and air. Efforts to mitigate this threat are ongoing, however, the quickest and most effective solution lies in addressing the root cause: the products themselves, and consumer choices. And the good news is that we all have the ability to make an impact on this topic right away.
How to Avoid PFAS
It’s clear that PFAS pose a risk to our health and to the health of our environment. You can avoid using PFAS, minimize your exposure to them, and help support healthier oceans by taking the following simple actions:
Take Inventory: Take inventory of the personal care, cleaning, and other products you use in your home by investigating their ingredients. Popular websites and apps make this process extremely easy and include EWG’s Healthy Living App, Yuka App, and ClearYa App. If your products don’t meet the standard, swap them out for those that do, and consider reaching out to them to let them know why you are changing products.
Choose Safer Alternatives: Choose products without harmful ingredients, support retailers who prioritize safer ingredients, and learn how to read labels.
Dispose of Products Safely Properly dispose of old or unused chemicals. Many local waste management services offer household hazardous waste (HHW) collection days or drop off sites, and Earth911 provides information on recycling and disposal for various types of household waste.
Advocate for Change: Support legislation aimed at reducing chemical pollution and promote transparency in product labeling.
Educate and Spread Awareness: Learn about the issue and share information with friends and family about the negative impacts of household chemicals on the environment and our health.
By making these small changes, we can immediately lessen the impact of one of the many threats facing our oceans, and ourselves.
Household Products for a Healthy Planet
At Oceanic Society, we are fortunate to have the support of Koala Eco – a cleaning and household supply company that doesn’t just “talk the talk” – but actually walks the walk.
Koala Eco creates safe, effective, plant-based cleaning products using natural ingredients (and they smell SO good). They put sustainability at the heart of their company, from using recycled and refillable bottles, to using safe ingredients (Vegan, all natural, environmentally friendly, no synthetic fragrance, effective, anti-fungal, disinfectant, no dyes, no masking agents, no SLS, no phosphates).
But they don’t stop there. As a purpose-led business, a core part of their ethos is aiding communities to connect and experience nature. As such, they support a variety of community-based initiatives, including 1% For the Planet, People and Parks Foundation, NaturePact, and Oceanic Society’s Critter Scholars Program.
Join Oceanic Society and Koala Eco by making the switch to cleaner and safer household products, for you, and the planet.
