What can Perfluorochemicals cause?
What can Perfluorochemicals cause?
Human health effects from exposure to low environmental levels of PFCs are unknown. Studies of laboratory animals given large amounts of PFCs have found that some PFCs may affect growth and development, reproduction, and injure the liver. More research is needed to assess the human health effects of exposure to PFCs.
What does PFOA do to your body?
These studies indicate that exposure to PFOA and PFOS over certain levels may result in adverse health effects, including developmental effects to fetuses during pregnancy or to breastfed infants (e.g., low birth weight, accelerated puberty, skeletal variations), cancer (e.g., testicular, kidney), liver effects (e.g..
What do PFCs do to the environment?
PFCs are extremely persistent in people, wildlife, and they environment, and some of them build up in people and animals. They migrate out of consumer products into household dust and air, are released by industries, and contaminate drinking water and food [2, 3].
Why are PFCs harmful?
While the evidence is inconclusive, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) some studies in humans have shown that certain PFC/PFAS may be associated with developmental delays in the fetus and child, including possible changes in growth, learning, and behavior decreased fertility and …
Do I have PFOA in my blood?
Yes. Studies show that human exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is widespread and that nearly all people in the United States have PFOA in their blood. People can be exposed to PFOA through air, water, or soil contaminated from industrial sources, and from PFOA-containing consumer products.
Do water filters remove PFOA?
Water filtration technologies that remove PFAS In general, PFOS and PFOA resist most conventional chemical and microbial treatment technologies. The strongest proven technologies to filter PFAS out of drinking water include granular activated carbon absorption, ion exchange resins and reverse osmosis (1, 3).
Are PFCs the same as PFAS?
PFAS are common chemicals PFAS, also referred to as perfluorochemicals (PFCs), are chemicals that have been used for many years to make products that resist heat, stains, grease and water.
How long does PFOA stay in your system?
The most commonly used perfluoroalkyls (PFOA and PFOS) stay in the body for many years. It takes approximately 4 years for the level in the body to go down by half, even if no more is taken in. It appears that, in general, the shorter the carbon-chain length, the faster the perfluoroalkyl leaves the body.
Can you be tested for PFOA?
Yes. Studies in other communities show that levels of PFOA in blood declined after filtration systems were installed on their public and private drinking water sources. However, PFOA can be measured in blood for years after exposure.
What are the effects of exposure to PFCs?
Human health effects from exposure to low environmental levels of PFCs are unknown. Studies of laboratory animals given large amounts of PFCs have found that some PFCs may affect growth and development, reproduction, and injure the liver. More research is needed to assess the human health effects of exposure to PFCs.
How does PFOA affect the health of humans?
How PFOA Affects People’s Health. The human health effects from exposure to low environmental levels of PFOA are unknown. PFOA can remain in the body for long periods of time. In laboratory animals given large amounts, PFOA can affect growth and development, reproduction, and injure the liver.
What do you need to know about perfluorooctanoic acid?
Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) Factsheet. Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) are a group of chemicals used to make fluoropolymer coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. PFOA was used particularly for manufacturing polytetrafluoroethylene, but since 2002, manufacturers have used a new process not requiring this chemical.
What are some of the health effects of PFAS?
These health effects include altered metabolism, 3 fertility, 4 reduced fetal growth and increased risk of being overweight or obese, 5 and reduced ability of the immune system to fight infections. 6 While knowledge about the potential health effects of PFAS has grown, many questions remain unanswered.