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Polyfluorinated Chemicals

CATEGORY: Not classified

USED IN: Non-stick cookware, stain-resistant coatings

Many non-stick cookware surfaces and stain-resistant fabrics for clothing, furniture, and carpeting are created from a group of chemicals called polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs). The two most common PFCs are perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Evidence linking these chemicals to breast cancer is inconclusive because few studies have assessed the effects. Two recent studies do suggest that PFOA can affect the development of the mammary gland in mice.[1]

Research suggests other concerns about the common use of PFCs in household products. First, PFCs do not break down in the environment, and some have been found globally in air, water, soil, and wildlife. These chemicals have spread to polar areas where the chemicals are not used.[2] In addition, PFCs have been found in 99.7% of humans tested,[3] and the chemicals are not broken down or excreted. As a result, the PFCs a person is exposed to accumulate throughout one's lifetime.[4] Evidence suggests that workers in chemical plants that produce PFCs have an increased risk of several cancers, including cancers of the prostate, bladder, rectum, liver, nervous system, blood and lymph.[5],[6],[7] Additional research on humans suggests that PFOA may disrupt the endocrine system and affect thyroid hormone levels among workers.[8] In addition, one study suggests that high combined levels of PFOS and PFOA may affect semen quality.[9] Animal studies affirm the likelihood that PFCs are linked to some cancers, and suggest that PFOA may promote tumor growth[10] and act as an endocrine disruptor.[11],[12],[13],[14],[15]

  1. White SS, Calafat AM, Kuklenyik Z, Villanueva L, Zehr RD, Helfant L, Strynar  MJ, Lindstrom AB, Thibodeaux JR, Wood C, Fenton SE. 2007. Gestational PFOA exposure of mice is associated with altered mammary gland development in dams and female offspring. Toxicological Sciences, 96, 133-144. Differential effects of peripubertal exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid on mammary gland development in C57BL/6 and Balb/c Mouse Strains. Reproductive Toxicology, 27, 299-306.
  2. Jensen AA, Leffers H. (2007). Emerging endocrine disruptors: Perfluoroalkylated substances. International Journal of Andrology, 31,161-169.
  3. Calafat AM, Wong LY, Kuklenyik Z, Reidy JA, Needham LL. 2007. Polyfluoroalkyl chemicals in the U.S. population: data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2004 and comparisons with NHANES 1999-2000. Environ Health Perspect 115(11): 1596-602.
  4. Jensen AA, Leffers H. (2007). Emerging endocrine disruptors: Perfluoroalkylated substances. International Journal of Andrology, 31,161-169.
  5. Gilliland FD, Mandel JS. 1993. Mortality among employees of a perfluorooctanoic acid production plant. J Occup Med 35(9): 950-4.
  6. Lundin JI, Alexander BH. 2007. Mortality of Employees of an Ammonium Perfluorooctanoate Production facility. Final Report to US EPA Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) Docket No AR-226.
  7. Leonard RC, Kreckmann KH, Sakr CJ, Symons JM. 2007. Retrospective Cohort Mortality Study of Workers in a Polymer Production Plant Including a Reference Population of Regional Workers. Ann Epidemiol 18(1): 15-22.
  8. Frisbee S. 2008. The C8 Health Project: How a Class Action Lawsuit Can Interact with Public Health - History of Events. Available:  http://www.hsc.wvu.edu/som/cmed/ophp/grandRoundsWebcast.asp [accessed May 12, 2008].
  9. Joensen UN, Bossi R, Leffers H, Jensen AA, Skakkebaek NE, Jorgensen N 2009. Do perfluoroalkyl compounds impair human semen quality? Environmental Health Perspectives. 117(6):923-7
  10. Abdellatif AG, Preat V, Taper HS, Roberfroid M. 1991. The modulation of rat liver carcinogenesis by perfluorooctanoic acid, a peroxisome proliferator. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 111(3): 530-7.
  11. Tilton SC, Orner GA, Benninghoff JD, Carpenter HM, Hendricks JD, Pereira CB, et al. 2008. Genomic Profiling Reveals an Alternate Mechanism for Hepatic Tumor Promotion by Perfluorooctanoic Acid in Rainbow Trout. Environ Health Perspect 116(8): 1047-55.
  12. Liu RC, Hurtt ME, Cook JC, Biegel LB. 1996. Effect of the peroxisome proliferator, ammonium perfluorooctanoate (C8), on hepatic aromatase activity in adult male Crl:CD BR (CD) rats. Fundam Appl Toxicol 30(2): 220-8.
  13. Maras M, Vanparys C, Muylle F, Robbens J, Berger U, Barber JL, et al. 2006. Estrogen-like properties of fluorotelomer alcohols as revealed by mcf-7 breast cancer cell proliferation. Environ Health Perspect 114(1): 100-5.
  14. Liu W, Chen S, Quan X, Jin Y. 2008. Toxic Effect of Serial Perfluorosulfonic and Perfluorocarboxylic Acids on the Membrane System of a Freshwater Alga Measured by Flow Cytometry. Environ Toxicol Chem 27(7): 1597-604.
  15. Tilton SC, Orner GA, Benninghoff JD, Carpenter HM, Hendricks JD, Pereira CB, et al. 2008. Genomic Profiling Reveals an Alternate Mechanism for Hepatic Tumor Promotion by Perfluorooctanoic Acid in Rainbow Trout. Environ Health Perspect 116(8): 1047-55.