PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances)

PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of manufactured chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s because of their useful properties. PFAS compounds don’t occur in nature and are known as “Forever Chemicals” because they break down very slowly (thousands of years) and can accumulate in people, animals (especially fish) and the environment.

Because of their widespread use and their persistence in the environment, many PFAS are found in the blood of people and animals all over the world and are present at low levels in a variety of food products and in the environment. PFAS are found in water, air, fish, and soil at locations across the nation and the globe.

PFAS are synthetic chemicals used for:  friction resistance; water proofing (hydrophobic); high-temperature stability; smudge resistance (lenses); stain resistance; electrical insulation; flame retardance; UV resistance, rustproofing. They are resistant to heat, oil, and water, not water soluble, and not affected by heat or UV light.

There are more than 4,000 PFAS.  The more common ones are: PTFE (Teflon, Xylan); ePTFE (Gore-Tex); PCTFE; PVDF; PVF; FFA; PFOA; PFOS; PFNA; PFHxS; PFHpA; PFDA; PFCA; PFSA; FTOH; etc. Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluoro octane Sulfonate (PFOS), for example, are two of the most widely used and studied chemicals in the PFAS group. PFOA and PFOS have been replaced in the United States with other PFAS in recent years.

PFAS can be used in the following components within all electrical products:

• Wiring and tubing
• Thin film capacitors
• Disc drives.
• Lithium-ion batteries
• Plastic parts as it is sprayed into molding tools to reduce mold release force.
• Fire retardants within plastic parts.
• Printed circuit boards, and on conformal coatings on printed circuit board assemblies
• Powder-coat paints & coatings, corrosion-proof coatings.
• Lubricants (think synthetic engine oil), cleaners & waxes.
• PTFE tape, parts, wraps
• Release agents (O-rings, gaskets, foam)
• Dielectric (connectors)
• Wires (PTFE and PFA wires)
• Fluor seals (FKM, FFKM, PTFE seals)

PFAS are also used in:

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Firefighting foam
• Cosmetics (especially foundation, mascara, nail polish)
• Pesticides
• Non-stick cooking pans
• Clothing, especially water-resistant clothing, and footwear (think hiking & skiing apparel)
• Carpeting and on furniture (stain resistance)
• Artificial turf
• Medical equipment and masks
• Fast food packaging / wrappers
• Shampoo
• Paints, sealants, and varnishes

In summary, PFAS are everywhere.

Current research has shown that people can be exposed to PFAS by:

• Working in occupations such as firefighting or chemicals manufacturing and processing.
• Drinking water contaminated with PFAS.
• Eating certain foods that may contain PFAS, including fish.
• Swallowing contaminated soil or dust.
• Breathing air containing PFAS.
• Using products made with PFAS or that are packaged in materials containing PFAS.

Certain Adults and Children May Have Higher Exposure to PFAS

Adults

Some people have higher exposures to PFAS than others because of their occupations or where they live. For example:

• Industrial workers who are involved in making or processing PFAS or PFAS-containing materials, or people who live or recreate near PFAS-producing facilities, may have greater exposure to PFAS.
• Pregnant and lactating women tend to drink more water per pound of body weight than the average person and as a result they may have higher PFAS exposure compared to other people if it is present in their drinking water.

Children

Because children are still developing, they may be more sensitive to the harmful effects of chemicals such as PFAS. They can also be exposed more than adults because:

• Children drink more water, eat more food, and breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults, which can increase their exposure to PFAS.
• Young children crawl on floors and put things in their mouths which leads to a higher risk of exposure to PFAS in carpets, household dust, toys, and cleaning products.
• Breast milk from mothers with PFAS in their blood and formula made with water containing PFAS can expose infants to PFAS, and it may also be possible for children to be exposed in utero during pregnancy.

Exposure to PFAS May be Harmful to Human Health

Current scientific research suggests that exposure to certain PFAS may lead to adverse health outcomes. However, research is still ongoing to determine how different levels of exposure to different PFAS can lead to a variety of health effects. Research is also underway to better understand the health effects associated with low levels of exposure to PFAS over long periods of time, especially in children.

What We Know about Health Effects

Exposure to certain levels of PFAS may lead to:

• Reproductive effects such as decreased fertility or increased high blood pressure in pregnant women.
• Developmental effects or delays in children, including low birth weight, accelerated puberty, bone variations, or behavioral changes.
• Increased risk of some cancers, including prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers.
• Reduced ability of the body’s immune system to fight infections, including reduced vaccine response.
• Interference with the body’s natural hormones.
• Increased cholesterol levels and/or risk of obesity

Laws are going into effect soon requiring companies to report the level of PFAS in their products.

Organizations need to get a head-start on the reporting of PFAS as customers want to know the PFAS in the products they purchase from them before the reporting deadlines.

• Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) requires reporting on the use of PFAS (Per- and PolyFluoroAlkyl Substances).
• TSCA does not restrict the use of PFAS.
• TSCA is like the EU’s REACH regulation, where you are required to report to the government the amount of the chemicals you are using; and is unlike the RoHS Directive, that restricts the use of heavy metals and hazardous chemicals.

What We Don’t Fully Understand Yet

EPA’s researchers and partners across the country are working hard to answer critical questions about PFAS:

• How to better and more efficiently detect and measure PFAS in our air, water, soil, and fish and wildlife.
• How much people are exposed to PFAS.
• How harmful PFAS are to people and the environment.
• How to remove PFAS from drinking water
• How to manage and dispose of PFAS

This information will help EPA and state, local, and tribal partners make more informed decisions on how best to protect human health and the environment.