II. Definitions
- PFAS Chemicals (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance)
- Broad category of synthetic chemicals used in commercial products throughout the world since the 1950s
- Used commonly in commercial products, esp. Fluorosurfactants (e.g. nonstick cookware, water resistant clothes)
- Fluorosurfactant
- Fluorine-containing surfactant with high chemical stability and strongly reduces surface tension
- Allows product to be more easily applied to a surface with better wetting, spreading and leveling
- Used in firefighting foams, coatings, and cleaning products
- Broad category that includes PFAS Chemicals
- Forever Chemical
- PFAS are known as Forever Chemicals due to their stability and broad environmental contamination
- PFAS are degradation resistant and will likely remain in the environment for 100s or 1000s of years
- PFAS Chemicals are found in 50% of tap water samples in U.S. and can be detected in routine blood samples
III. Types: Specific PFAS Chemicals
- Background
- Thousands of different PFAS Chemicals have been produced
- Several PFAS have been used more heavily, and have been best studied
- Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA, esp. industrial use)
- Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS, esp. industrial use)
- Perfluorohexanesulfonic Acid (PFHxS)
- Perfluorodecanoic Acid
- Perfluorononanoic Acid
IV. Types: Common Products using PFAS as Fluorosurfactant
- Nonstick cookware
- Stain-resistant, Wrinkle-resistant and water-resistant fabrics
- Fire fighting foams (used in petroleum-based fires)
V. Complications: Human Disease Associations with PFAS
- Strong Associations
- Diminished Antibody response
- Dyslipidemia
- Intrauterine Growth Retardation
- Renal Cancer
- Other Associations
- Liver dysfunction
- Thyroid dysfunction
- Breast Cancer
- Testicular Cancer
- Ulcerative Colitis
VI. Prevention
- Home Water Filtration
- Commercial Testing Kits are available for testing home tap water for PFAS
- Home Water Filtration systems are available that filter out PFAS
- Avoid food products with PFAS contamination
- Avoid Fish from PFAS contaminated water
- Avoid nonstick cookware containing PFAS
- Avoid nonstick food packaging containing PFAS
- Children are at highest risk for PFAS exposure complications
- Pregnant and lactating mothers should try to avoid PFAS (e.g. use filtered water)