Where It Comes From
Made for fluorinated coatings/surfactants; releases during manufacturing, use, or disposal; related compounds can turn into long‑lived perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids [1][2].
How You Are Exposed
Workers by inhalation/skin; public mainly via contaminated water, indoor dust, and treated products, especially near PFAS sites [1][2][3].
Why It Matters
PFAS exposure is linked to higher cholesterol, reduced vaccine response, liver effects, pregnancy hypertension, lower birth weight; some PFAS (e.g., PFOA) are linked to cancers [1][3][4].
Who Is at Risk
Fluorochemical workers; people on private wells near plants or foam-release sites; pregnant people and infants [1][3].
How to Lower Your Exposure
Test private wells; use certified PFAS filters (activated carbon or reverse osmosis); avoid stain-/water-repellent products with “fluoro-/PFAS”; clean dust with HEPA/damp methods; follow workplace controls/PPE [2][3][5].
References
- [1]ATSDR. Toxicological Profile for Perfluoroalkyls (PFAS), 2021. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp200.pdf
- [2]U.S. EPA. PFAS Explained. https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-explained
- [3]CDC/ATSDR. PFAS and Your Health. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/index.html
- [4]IARC. Evaluation of PFOA and PFOS (Monographs Vol. 134), 2023. https://www.iarc.who.int/news-events/iarc-monographs-evaluate-pfoa-and-pfos-2023/
- [5]U.S. EPA. Technical Fact Sheet – PFAS (treatment options), 2021. https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2021-12/technical-fact-sheet-pfas__december-2021_508.pdf