What are the long term effects of PFAS?
A recent review from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) outlines a host of health effects associated with PFAS exposure, including cancer, liver damage, decreased fertility, and increased risk of asthma and thyroid disease.
What is long-chain PFAS?
Long-chain PFAS typically are designated as perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids containing ≥ 6 carbons, such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids with ≥ 7 carbons. Short- chain PFAS have fewer carbons such as perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA).
Why are perfluorinated compounds bad?
near a chemical plant, PFOS and PFOA have been associated with pre- eclampsia (pregnancy-induced hypertension), birth defects (PFOA only), and increased uric acid levels – a marker of heart disease. have increased risk of prostate and bladder cancer.
Is PFOA long-chain?
PFOA and PFOS, are ‘long-chain’ PFAS with 8 atoms (sometimes known as C8 chemistry). Many manufacturers are switching to different versions with only 6 atoms in the chain i.e. C6 chemistry. Evidence is starting to show that these C6 PFAS could be just as persistent and just as toxic as the ones they replace.
How do you remove PFAS from your body?
Your best bet for removing PFAS – and other chemical contaminants – from your drinking water is to install and maintain an in-home reverse osmosis system, though some carbon filters appear to be effective, as well.
What health problems can PFAS cause?
Exposure to PFAS May be Harmful to Human Health
- 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.
How do you remove PFAS from water?
Activated carbon treatment is the most studied treatment for PFAS removal. Activated carbon is commonly used to adsorb natural organic compounds, taste and odor compounds, and synthetic organic chemicals in drinking water treatment systems.
Is PFAS toxic?
Exposure to PFAS May be Harmful to Human Health Current scientific research suggests that exposure to high levels of 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.
Are perfluorinated compounds toxic?
These fluorine compounds are commonly used in consumer products as stain/water/grease repellents in carpets and clothing or in cooking utensils as nonstick coatings [1, 2]. The potentially toxic effects of these substances are presently being studied with increasing intensity.
What are perfluorinated compounds used for?
Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are a large group of chemicals used in numerous applications, including stain repellents for textiles, additives to paper products, and aqueous film forming foams (AFFFs) used to fight electrical fires [97–100].
Is PFAS corrosive?
Today, more than 3,000 synthetic chemicals are classified as PFAS. They have wide-ranging applications, such as in grease-resistant microwave-popcorn bags, carpets that resist stains, and pipes and wires that resist corrosion. PFAS are a broad group of chemicals with numerous different properties and applications.