Where It Comes From
Made and used in stain-, oil-, and water‑repellent coatings; PFAS-treated products can shed or break down into other long‑lasting PFAS in the environment. [1][2]
How You Are Exposed
Drinking water near contaminated sites; indoor dust from treated carpets/upholstery; contact with grease‑resistant packaging; certain workplaces using PFAS coatings. [1][2]
Why It Matters
PFAS persist and can build up in people. Exposure has been linked to higher cholesterol, reduced vaccine response, liver and thyroid effects, pregnancy‑induced hypertension, and, for some PFAS (e.g., PFOA), cancer. [1][3][4]
Who Is at Risk
Workers handling PFAS; communities near PFAS manufacturing or firefighting foam sites; pregnant people, fetuses, and infants; people who eat fish/wild game from contaminated areas. [1][2]
How to Lower Your Exposure
Use certified home water filters (activated carbon or reverse osmosis) shown to reduce PFAS; follow local water and fish advisories; limit use of stain‑resistant sprays/treatments; clean dust often and ventilate. [1][2][5]
References
- [1]ATSDR. PFAS and Your Health. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
- [2]U.S. EPA. Basic Information on PFAS (uses, exposure, health).
- [3]NTP. Immunotoxicity of PFOA and PFOS. National Toxicology Program, 2016.
- [4]IARC Monographs Vol. 131: PFOA (Group 1) and PFOS (Group 2B). International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2023.
- [5]ATSDR. PFAS in Drinking Water and Water Filters (guidance for households).