Where It Comes From
Made for fluoropolymer processing and water-/stain-repellent coatings; also found in some firefighting foams and industrial discharges [2][3].
How You Are Exposed
Drinking water near plants or firefighting sites; food from grease-resistant packaging; house dust and treated textiles; workplace air/skin [1][2].
Why It Matters
Similar PFAS are linked to immune effects (lower vaccine response), higher cholesterol, thyroid and developmental harms; some (e.g., PFOA) cause cancer in humans; they build up and break down slowly [1][4][5].
Who Is at Risk
Infants/children; pregnant or breastfeeding people; residents near contaminated sites or using private wells; workers handling PFAS; communities with frequent AFFF use [1][2].
How to Lower Your Exposure
Test well water; use NSF-certified carbon or reverse osmosis filters; follow fish advisories; choose PFAS-free cookware, textiles, and repellents; reduce indoor dust; follow local AFFF cleanup/disposal guidance [1][2][3].
References
- [1]ATSDR. PFAS and Your Health. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2022–2024.
- [2]U.S. EPA. PFAS Explained and Health Effects Overview, 2023–2024.
- [3]WHO. PFOS and PFOA in Drinking-water: Background document for WHO Guidelines, 2022.
- [4]IARC. Monographs Vol. 135: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), 2023.
- [5]NTP. Immunotoxicity Associated with Exposure to PFOA and PFOS, 2016.