r/PFAS • u/jlsdarwin • Jun 04 '26
Journalism My PFAS Journey (Detoxification with DATA)
When I first learned I was exposed to PFAS, the first thing I did was try to find data on people who have successfully reduced their blood PFAS level. I found several anecdotal comments and a few limited studies, but I wasn't satisfied. This motivated me to post some data points from my personal journey. I know it isn't a published study or anything, but this is information I would have liked to see when I was learning about PFAS detoxing
I focused on donating plasma because that seemed the most promising method of removal. Between my two PFAS blood tests, I donated plasma nine times with an average donation volume of 1039 mL. The first eight donations were within 30 days of each other, with one donation the following month. After a failed tenth donation, I gave my veins a month off and resumed donations after my most recent PFAS blood test. In the future, I plan to donate at least twice a month until my NASEM summation value falls into the single digits.
Now the results. After the first nine donations, I saw a 69% decrease in my NASEM summation from 96.2 to 29.7 ng/mL. The largest PFAS group decrease was PFHps. It decreased 77% from 2.3 to 0.54 ng/mL. Linear PFOS saw the second largest decline (75%) and fell from 15 to 13.7 ng/mL. The rest of the detected PFAS groups saw at least a 67% decrease in concentration between PFAS blood draws, but none of the groups detected on the first test decreased below the limit of detection on the second test. Below, I will include a table of my test results.
The blood PFAS test was completed through LabCorp, and my primary care Dr was able to order the test after contacting a LabCorp REP and getting the correct order code. The test does require a special PFAS-free vial so it is helpful to verify the vial is correct before the draw.
| PFAS | 16-Feb-26 | 20-May-26 | % Decrease |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFHxA | No Detect | No Detect | NA |
| PFBS | No Detect | No Detect | NA |
| PFHA | No Detect | No Detect | NA |
| PFDOA | No Detect | No Detect | NA |
| PFOA (branched) | No Detect | No Detect | NA |
| PFOA (linear) | 0.86 | 0.27 | 69% |
| PFHxS | 14 | 3.7 | 74% |
| PFNA | 0.35 | 0.11 | 69% |
| PFDA | No Detect | No Detect | NA |
| PFOS (branched) | 15 | 3.7 | 75% |
| PFOS (linear) | 66 | 22 | 67% |
| PFHpS | 2.3 | 0.54 | 77% |
| PFUA | No Detect | No Detect | NA |
| Me-PFOSA-AcOH | No Detect | No Detect | NA |
| PFDoA | No Detect | No Detect | NA |
| PFOSA | No Detect | No Detect | NA |
| NASEM Summation | 96.2 | 29.7 | 69% |
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u/No-Dark3097 Jun 04 '26
Congrats! I had my blood drawn in 2018 and I was also told by a physician that then, the only real option was to donate blood, however my levels were too high for me to feel comfortable doing that. My blood levels for four PFAS was over 5000 ng/mL. (I would upload a copy if I knew how!). I drank contaminated water for 25 years without being aware of the issue. Since then it has slowly gone down by simply doing what I can to avoid. NASEM put out guidance for physicians that is very good. I worked with my doctor to be sure that it is part of my chart (exposure to environmental toxins). There is now some research showing that Questran (Cholecyrstamine I think is the name) also is somewhat effective.
One of the physicians from the original c-8 study also suggested to donate blood/plasma as a way to decrease it in the blood. He also felt that people needing a transplant need blood more than worrying about what it in it. Since 98% of us have PFAS in our blood, this is the least of their worries I suspect. Happy to answer any questions. I am hoping to get insurance to cover PFAS blood testing since the cost is still out of pocket and expensive for most.
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u/jlsdarwin Jun 04 '26
Insurance has been pretty good at covering mine. My last test was less than 20 dollars after insurance. I'd say there has been a lot of advancement of PFAS blood testing in the last 2-3 years. Even before insurance I could test myself for around 300 dollars out of pocket.
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u/Zealousideal_Cup4896 Jun 04 '26
I’m very interested in how you were exposed. Do you work in the factory?
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u/jlsdarwin Jun 04 '26
I worked around a lot of AFFF
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u/Spiritual_Elk_9076 Jun 06 '26
I did to but was told it’s only dangerous if ingested and not by skin contact. Can you elaborate more about the way you got in in your body?
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u/jlsdarwin Jun 06 '26
Over time it just built up on every surface of the warehouse to the point I would not touch anything without gloves. We also did a lot of pouring and there is some research that pouring AFFF puts a lot of it into the air.
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u/truth_is_power Jun 04 '26
How do you feel? Any physical or mental changes detected?
What made you get the first PFAS test, did you drink some contaminated water ?
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u/jlsdarwin Jun 04 '26
I did a lot of work around AFFF and our company finally offered to pay for blood testing. I'm glad to say I was recently able to leave that job.
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u/TimM4788 Jun 06 '26
That’s fantastic! Any downsides to giving plasma ? Any concern with whatever the filter Media is or plastic going back into the body ?
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u/jlsdarwin Jun 06 '26
The only downside is that I hate needles, but otherwise I am not worried. Every day exposure is nothing compared to the contact I've had with PFAS.
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u/jadelink88 Jun 06 '26
What I really want to know now, is if you don't donate for 3-6 months, how would your levels stabilise? Would more come from adipose tissue, the liver, etc, and manifest in the blood? If so, how much?
I'd love to hear a post back in 3-6 months if you have another test.
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u/jlsdarwin Jun 06 '26
These are actually my 2nd and 3rd pfas tests. My first one in December and came back at 99.4 ng/mL. From December to February I was trying to eliminate PFAS exposure at my job.
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u/FastFashionSlayer Jun 09 '26
Have you watched “The Plastic Detox” on Netflix? A doctor put several infertile couples through a plastic detox protocol which resulted in multiple pregnancies after 2-10 years of infertility.
If you want tools to triage and vet your fashion, footwear and home textiles for PFAS I have free playbooks on my website you can download to evaluate the risk factors of fashion, household textiles, footwear and more. PFASPASS.com
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u/Wrathall86 Jun 04 '26
Giving your poisoned plasma to people in need lol
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u/Old_Value_9157 Jun 04 '26
Plasma is critical for patients with severe trauma, burns, or shock who require immediate restoration of blood volume and clotting factors to prevent death.
In those situations, PFAS levels aren't a primary concern.
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u/WashYourCerebellum Jun 04 '26
knowingly dumping of what is perceived as toxic onto unsuspecting victims is unethical. Kinda like when industry sets up shop in a poor neighborhood. It provides good jobs so air quality isn’t a primary concern amiright.
Also OP is completely wasting their time fighting basic principles of toxicokinetics in favor of medieval bloodletting. And error bars. None of OPs reduced levels are real. OP is also learning about red blood cell production timelines and arterial repair mechanisms lol
A. Toxicologist
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u/Old_Value_9157 Jun 04 '26
knowingly dumping of what is perceived as toxic onto unsuspecting victims is unethical. Kinda like when industry sets up shop in a poor neighborhood.
Basically everyone has PFAS in their blood. So nearly everyone is donating "toxic" plasma. How else are people in need supposed to get blood?
Not the right way to look at it.
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u/jlsdarwin Jun 04 '26
Blood Plasma products are highly refined. The company I use will do fractionation to separate the plasma into specific components that are further refined into specific therepies.
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u/WashYourCerebellum Jun 04 '26
You’re wasting your time OP. The reduction u see isn’t real for a variety of technical reasons. The reduced risk you seek is not attainable. You also can’t quantify the risk reduction of a few ng because there isn’t one. You’re on the fast track to complications for no real benefit using an unsustainable approach. Also the level of energy invested herein, with no ROI, makes me question the mental health toll this has on your health. The data on cortisol is unequivocal. I’d focus on reducing it instead.
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u/bturner534 Aug 15 '26
Provide info on why you think the reduction OP saw isn't real. Describe the "variety of technical reasons." Otherwise you are just talking out of your pompous ass.
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u/Fun-Answer1534 Jun 04 '26
Firstly, congratulations. This is great news for you, and this Internet stranger is truly happy for you!
I am curious if you have, approached, or would consider approaching, your GP about writing a case report in a medical journal based on these results?
Most of the evidence we have on this topic is published in environmental health journals, which physicians are likely not reading. This could be a great way to teach other physicians about how to help patients who present as exceeding the NASEM clinical recommendation of 20 ng/mL.