Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a synthetic chemical utilized in the production of various stain, grease, and water-resistant products, including non-stick cookware and stain-resistant carpets. As a member of the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) group, PFOA is entirely man-made and does not occur naturally. It is known for its environmental persistence, often contaminating groundwater and accumulating in living organisms, including humans. Research indicates that exposure to PFOA can lead to significant health issues such as liver damage, thyroid disease, and certain cancers, particularly kidney and testicular cancers. Due to these health risks, regulatory measures have been implemented to reduce its use, with a notable agreement in 2006 that aimed to phase out PFOA in the United States. Despite this effort, PFOA remains a concern, as it is still present in products from other countries. Furthermore, it can enter the human body through contaminated food, water, or direct contact with products containing PFOA, posing ongoing health risks, especially for vulnerable populations like children and fetuses. As investigations continue, understanding PFOA's environmental and health implications remains crucial.
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Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a synthetic chemical that is sometimes used in the manufacture of products that are resistant to stains, grease, soil, and water. Some of these products include non-stick cookware and stain-resistant carpeting. PFOA is part of a broader group of chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFOA is a manufactured substance that does not occur naturally and persists in the environment. It is frequently found in groundwater and water supplies and accumulates over time in humans and other animals. Studies have shown that exposure to PFOA can be dangerous and may lead to a variety of potential health problems, including some forms of cancer. As a result, the use of PFOA has been more strictly regulated, and many manufacturers have stopped using the substance altogether. Still, scientists continue to study PFOA to learn more about its potential effects on the environment.
Background
PFOA is part of a family of manufactured chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These substances are entirely synthetic, which means that they do not occur in the environment naturally. Other PFAS include perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS); perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA); perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDeA); perfluorobutyric acid (PFBA); perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA); perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA); perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUA); perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS); perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBuS); perfluorooctane sulfonamide (PFOSA); 2-(N-methyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamide) acetic acid (Me-PFOSA-AcOH); and 2-(N-ethylperfluorooctane sulfonamide) acetic acid (Et-PFOSA-AcOH).
The manufacture and use of PFAS began in the 1940s and continued unimpeded for many years. These substances were widely used largely because they have the unique quality of being able to repel oil, grease, and water. PFOA and PFOS are the most common forms of PFAS. Once produced in particularly large quantities, these chemicals were used in a wide variety of commercial products before regulatory restrictions were put into place. From that point forward, most companies stopped using PFAS or altered their practices to reduce the amount of these substances used in their products or released into the environment. Still, PFAS remain widespread and persistent in the environment. They are frequently found in air, dust, water, soil, and sediment. PFAS can enter the body when inhaled through or when food or water contaminated with these substances is consumed. Once they enter the body, PFAS typically remain there for long periods of time. Levels of PFAS in the environment are usually highest near the factories or other facilities where they are used.
PFAS are often found in commercial household products, foods packaged with PFAS-containing materials, workplaces where PFAS are used, and water. Because of their persistence in the environment, trace amounts of PFAS can also be found within most living organisms. This may all be problematic because studies have shown that PFAS may cause some adverse health effects. Some PFAS have been shown to contribute to issues such as elevated cholesterol levels, low infant birth weights, immune system problems, thyroid hormone disruption, and cancer. As a result, PFAS are generally considered to be potentially dangerous substances.
Overview
PFOA is a synthetic chemical once widely used in the manufacture of various products meant to be resistant to stains, grease, oil, or water. Some of these products included stain-resistant carpets and rugs, certain types of upholstered furniture, and non-stick cookware. PFOA was also sometimes used to make products like water-repellant clothing, cardboard packaging, ski wax, and fire-extinguishing foams. PFOA is perhaps most commonly associated with Teflon, another synthetic chemical used in the manufacture of non-stick cookware. This is somewhat of a misnomer because while PFOA is used in the manufacture of Teflon, it burns off during the process and is actually not present in the final product at all.
The main reason that PFOA was so widely used in Teflon and other similar products is because it is remarkably stable. Unfortunately, this also means that PFOA does not break down easily and remains in the environment for a long time. This is why PFOA is so widespread and persistent. PFOA particles easily leach into air, water, and soil and are ingested by living organisms. In fact, nearly all living things have trace amounts of PFOA for this very reason. Among humans, PFOA typically enters the body through either the ingestion of contaminated food or water or, in some cases, through direct physical contact with products containing PFOA. PFOA is sometimes found in microwavable popcorn bags. Older carpets, furniture, and non-stick cookware may also contain PFOA. Young children may be at a greater risk of exposure to PFOA because they crawl on floors, get dust on their hands, and put their hands in their mouths. Children may also be exposed to PFOA through their mother during pregnancy.
Several studies have demonstrated that exposure to PFOA can be potentially harmful. These studies revealed that high levels of exposure may result in such health problems as liver damage, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, increased cholesterol levels, changes in blood pressure, and certain types of cancer, particularly kidney and testicular cancer. Exposure of PFOA can also cause health concerns for fetuses and breastfed babies and children. These include low birth rate, early puberty, and various immune system issues.
As scientists learned more about the potential dangers of PFOA, officials began making an effort to reduce its use. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took the first major step in this process in 2006 when it reached an agreement with the eight large American manufacturers that used PFOA at the time. These manufacturers agreed to take part in a stewardship program aimed at eventually eliminating PFOA from all emissions and products by 2015. Since that time, PFOA and other similar chemicals have not been made in the United States. That being said, however, they are still used in other countries. As a result, the risk of exposure to PFOA is still present even though its use is greatly diminished. The EPA also issued a health advisory of seventy parts per trillion over the course of a person’s lifetime for drinking water, though this is only a suggested guideline and not an enforceable standard.
Bibliography
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