Where It Comes From
Byproduct or ingredient in PFAS manufacturing; found near industrial sites and firefighting foam use [1][3].
How You Are Exposed
Drinking water or food from contaminated areas; eating fish/wildlife; indoor dust; some treated consumer goods; and certain workplaces [1][2][3].
Why It Matters
PFDA and related PFAS stay in the body for years; PFAS exposure has been linked to changes in cholesterol, immune response (e.g., reduced vaccine antibodies), liver enzymes, thyroid, and developmental effects. PFDA is detected in U.S. blood biomonitoring [1][2][4].
Who Is at Risk
People with contaminated drinking water, PFAS workers, pregnant people and infants (transfer during pregnancy/breastfeeding), and communities eating locally caught fish [1][2].
How to Lower Your Exposure
Check local water info; consider certified filters (reverse osmosis or activated carbon) that reduce PFAS; follow fish advisories; choose PFAS‑free products; wet‑dust/HEPA‑vacuum; follow workplace protections [2][3].
References
- [1]ATSDR. Toxicological Profile for Perfluoroalkyls (PFAS). Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2021.
- [2]ATSDR/CDC. PFAS and Your Health. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- [3]U.S. EPA. Learn about PFAS and Reducing Exposure to PFAS in Drinking Water. United States Environmental Protection Agency.
- [4]CDC. National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals: Biomonitoring Data Tables (PFAS, including PFDA). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.