Per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) are invasive global pollutants that are well documented to accumulate in people and animals, posing various serious health risks. It is estimated that there are 10,000 to 15,000 unique compounds. A short list of 8,163 compounds on the EPA website. Their breakdown and elimination from the body can take five or more years. PFAS exposure is linked to reduced immune response, reproductive issues, developmental delays in children, elevated cholesterol, thyroid disorders, and an increased risk of certain cancers. Can the oral use of activated charcoal lower the concentration of these "forever chemicals" in the human body? Very recent research conducted by collaborating medical universities in Italy strongly suggests that it can.

Vegetable Activated Charcoal for Human Consumption Reduces Selected PFAS Levels in a Bile Secretion Model: Cues on Its Possible Clinical Use

Alessandro Bonetto
Luca De Toni
Andrea Di Nisio
Laura Pagnin
Alberto Ferlin
Antonio Marcomini*
Carlo Foresta

Published in Chemical Research in Toxicology, Issue 5, May 5, 2026
Copyright © 2026 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.

Abstract

"A significant increase in fecal excretion has been experimentally assessed with the use of oral adsorbents with negligible gut absorption. Here, we evaluated in vitro the use of activated charcoal (AC) for human consumption, as sorption material for a panel of PFAS, such as perfluoro-butanoic acid (PFBA), perfluoro-butanesulfonic acid (PFBS), perfluoro-hexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluoro-hexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluoro-octanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluoro-octanesulfonic acid (PFOS), in an experimental simulated bile juice (SBJ). The aim was to obtain preliminary data for possible clinical applications to reduce PFAS blood levels in humans... All PFAS showed more than 80% sorption on activated charcoal from simulated bile juice within 120 min. This suggests rapid and nearly complete removal... These data are suggestive of a potential noninvasive intervention strategy to increase fecal PFAS excretion through the dietary use of AC, in order to mitigate health issues associated with PFAS exposure."

The graphic below illustrates the potential use of food-grade coconut shell activated charcoal in aiding the removal of certain common PFAS compounds by binding to them, thereby disrupting their enterohepatic recirculation and promoting their elimination through the feces.

Time-dependent Removal of a Panel of Perfluoroalkyl Substances from Simulated Bile Juice by Activated Charcoal for Human Consumption

Source: ACS Publications

Figure 1. Experimental evaluation of the time-dependent removal of a panel of perfluoroalkyl substances from simulated bile juice by activated charcoal for human consumption. Data are reported as the mean value ± standard deviation of a technical replicate.

Abbreviations: PFBA, perfluoro-butanoic acid; PFBS, perfluoro-butanesulfonic acid; PFHxA, perfluoro-hexanoic acid; PFHxS, perfluoro-hexanesulfonic acid; PFOA, perfluoro-octanoic acid; PFOS, perfluoro-octanesulfonic acid.

The reported technical data for food-grade, coconut shell-based activated charcoal were as follows: an average grain size of 15–35 µm, with 90% of particles measuring less than 74 µm, an iodine number of approximately 1,000 mg/g, and an average surface area of 1,800 m²/g. This very fine grade compares closely with USP Coconut Activated Charcoal Powder – Detox and Cleanse.

Dosage Equivalents

The estimated experimental daily oral dose of activated charcoal (AC) was 7 g/day, divided into two doses of 3.5 g each, taken away from meals.

A 3.5 g dose is approximately equal to 1 teaspoon of activated charcoal powder or 12 activated charcoal capsules.