Where It Comes From
Manufacturing and use of PFAS‑treated textiles, coatings, metal finishing, and certain firefighting foams; releases to water and air [2].
How You Are Exposed
Drinking contaminated water; indoor dust; some foods like fish from contaminated areas; workplaces that handle PFAS or firefighting foams [1][2].
Why It Matters
PFAS travel in water and some build up in people; related PFAS are linked to higher cholesterol, liver changes, reduced vaccine response, and developmental effects; PFOA is classified as carcinogenic to humans [1][2][4][5].
Who Is at Risk
People on contaminated public systems or private wells; workers in PFAS production, metal plating, or firefighting; pregnant people, fetuses, and formula‑fed infants [1][2].
How to Lower Your Exposure
Check local water advisories; consider activated carbon or reverse‑osmosis filters certified for PFAS; follow fish advisories; reduce indoor dust; limit stain‑resistant treatments; follow workplace protections [2][3].
References
- [1]ATSDR. Toxicological Profile for Perfluoroalkyls (PFAS), 2021. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp200.pdf
- [2]EPA. Our Current Understanding of the Human Health and Environmental Risks of PFAS. https://www.epa.gov/pfas/our-current-understanding-human-health-and-environmental-risks-pfas
- [3]ATSDR/CDC. PFAS and Your Health. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/
- [4]NTP. Immunotoxicity of PFOA and PFOS (2016). https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/whatwestudy/assessments/noncancer/completed/pfoa
- [5]IARC. Evaluation of PFAS (including PFOA) carcinogenicity (2023). https://www.iarc.who.int/news-events/iarc-monographs-evaluate-the-carcinogenicity-of-pfas/