Where It Comes From
Production/use in repellant treatments for textiles, carpets, leather, and paper; industrial finishing. These coatings can shed to air, dust, and wastewater [1][2].
How You Are Exposed
Drinking water near facilities; indoor dust from treated goods; handling/laundering treated items; workplace use or manufacturing [1][2].
Why It Matters
PFAS persist and can build up in people and wildlife; some are linked to higher cholesterol, reduced vaccine response, liver/thyroid effects, pregnancy effects, and, for PFOA, kidney/testicular cancer [1][3][4].
Who Is at Risk
Workers using/applying these coatings; people near manufacturing or fire‑training sites; pregnant people, infants/children; users of contaminated private wells [1][2].
How to Lower Your Exposure
Check water reports; consider PFAS‑reducing filters (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58); choose PFAS‑free products and avoid routine stain‑repellent sprays; clean dust with HEPA vacuuming/damp mopping; follow workplace controls/PPE [1][2].
References
- [1]ATSDR. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Your Health. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/index.html
- [2]EPA. Basic Information on PFAS. https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-explained
- [3]NTP. Monograph on Immunotoxicity of PFOA and PFOS. 2016. https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/whatwestudy/assessments/noncancer/completed/pfoa
- [4]IARC Monographs Vol. 131 (2023): PFOA carcinogenic to humans (Group 1). https://www.iarc.who.int/news-events/iarc-monographs-evaluate-the-carcinogenicity-of-perfluorooctanoic-acid-pfoa-perfluorooctanesulfonic-acid-pfos-and-perfluorobutane-sulfonic-acid-pfbs/