We all love microwave popcorn for years. It’s convenient, delicious, and easy to make; so most of us take it as a snack time-out. But recent research suggests that microwave popcorn can contain damaging chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which affect male sexual health.
PFAS are synthetic chemicals found in consumer goods such as food packages, non-stick cooking pans and stain-resistant fabrics. Such chemicals were implicated in a number of diseases – including hormone disruption, liver damage, and cancer. These are so-called “forever chemicals” because they do not easily disintegrate in the environment and can persist in the human body.
A 2009 report in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found a strong correlation between PFAS use and poorer sperm quality in men. In that study, which involved 211 men, increased blood PFAS had a detrimental effect on sperm number, movement and shape. This may have implications for male fertility and sexual health because the quality of sperm plays a very important role in establishing and sustaining a healthy pregnancy.
So how do PFAS end up in microwave popcorn?
The chemicals make the microwave popcorn bags grease-resistant. When the popcorn is heated in the microwave, the chemicals can seep into the food and end up in the mouth. It can also happen if the popcorn is poured into PFAS-treated bags, because the chemicals will migrate out of the bags and into the popcorn.
Along with PFAS, microwave popcorn also contains harmful chemicals, including diacetyl. This chemical emulsifies microwave popcorn to create a delicious, buttery taste, but it’s been associated with an incurable lung disease called “popcorn lung,” in which exposure to fumes from the chemical scars the small air sacs in the lungs and makes breathing difficult.
Beyond the direct health effects of PFAS and diacetyl, microwave popcorn can indirectly impact male sexual wellbeing. Regular microwave popcorn consumption will make you overweight and obese, leading to ED risk factors. Moreover, obesity can alter hormonal conditions that interfere with sex. Plus, excessive microwave popcorn consumption raises your blood pressure and cholesterol, which both contribute to ED risk.
It’s worth pointing out that not only is microwave popcorn loaded with PFAS, so are processed foods, tap water, and household cleaners. But due to the packaging and cooking process, microwave popcorn can contain far more PFAS than other foods. So by restricting or abstaining from eating microwave popcorn, we are helping to minimise our exposure to these toxic chemicals.
To ensure the safety of men’s sexuality, we must know what is at stake in terms of the health hazards posed by microwave popcorn and other PFAS-containing foods. You can avoid the risks from consuming these chemicals by selecting products other than microwave popcorn, like air-popped popcorn or home-popped stovetop popcorn. We also need to read labels and steer clear of products that contain PFAS or other toxic chemicals.
Steps that consumers can take to reduce their exposure to PFAS
Step 1: Avoid Consuming Food Packaged in Materials Containing PFAS
PFAS can move from the food container into the food and into our bodies as we eat the food. Researchers have detected the highest levels of PFAS in certain types of microwave popcorn bags, pizza boxes and fast food wrappers. To minimize food PFAS exposure, consumers should refrain from eating these types of packaging whenever possible. By eating fresh, unpackaged foods or packaged without PFAS, you’ll dramatically reduce PFAS.
Step 2: Filter Drinking Water
The most common PFAS exposure occurs in drinking water. PFAS may pollute water sources from industrial and consumer products. PFAS may also be removed from municipal water sources that aren’t designed to do so. Fortunately, most filtration equipment can filter out PFAS from drinking water. For consumers, they can add activated carbon filters, reverse osmosis filters, or nanofiltration systems to eliminate PFAS in the water they drink.
Step 3: Limit Use of Non-Stick Cookware and Stain-Resistant Products
Cookware, even stain-proof ones, often contain PFAS. These chemicals may leach into food when cooked and in the air when applied to fabrics or carpets. Thus, reducing the use of such products can mitigate PFAS exposure. By substituting cast iron, stainless steel or other PFAS-free cookware, by using less stain-resistant treatments for furniture and clothing, and by choosing natural methods of stain removal, consumers will minimize their PFAS exposure in their daily lives.
Step 4: Avoid Using Products Containing Aqueous Film-Forming Foams (AFFF)
AFFF, which is used for fire fighting and training, tends to be high in PFAS. They can remain in the soil, air and water for decades after exposure. Therefore, firefighters and others who are regularly exposed to AFFF should take extra precautions to avoid exposure to PFAS. Utilising PFAS-free alternatives, applying proper PPE practices, and engaging in regular clean-up efforts can help reduce PFAS in AFFF.
Step 5: Advocate for Policy Change
Reduce PFAS exposure requires coordinated effort from every corner of the society, from policymakers to industry leaders. Consumers can support policy reform that limits PFAS use, encourages PFAS alternatives, and provides more funding for PFAS research and cleanup. Consumers can make our world safer and healthier by speaking to state and federal government officials, joining environmental health groups in your community, and shopping with companies who are committed to PFAS-free products.
In short, microwave popcorn, an ubiquitous and convenient snack food, may contain a bunch of lethal chemicals called PFAS that are affecting male sexual wellbeing. Studies have linked these chemicals to decreased sperm quality and diseases. That is sufficient evidence to alert consumers to the danger so that they can prevent such exposure. Having knowledge of them lends significant credence to eating healthier foods and reading labels — in the long journey of defending male sexual wellbeing.
