Human Exposure & Health Effects

Since PFAS is so widespread and resilient to the environment, humans can be exposed to it in many ways. The most common cause of exposure is by ingestion or inhalation. PFAS can also be exposed to a person through the skin, however in very low concentrations. Examples of PFAS exposure are as follows.

According to the EPA, studies conducted by the CDC have determined that most people in the United States have some level of exposure to PFAS. In fact, a 2019 study by the CDC indicated that 97% of all US citizens have PFAS in their blood. Many of those known to have been exposed showed low concentrations. However, PFAS chemicals can remain in the body for an extended period and accumulate. Those exposed to a known source of PFAS, over an extended period, showed higher levels of exposure. Other people at a higher risk of exposure include:

• Adults who have occupations in the manufacturing of consumer products made with PFAS.
  
• People who live near PFAS producing industrial areas.
  
• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. This is because a woman who is pregnant or breastfeeding tend to drink more water than the average person. There by increasing their risk of exposure.
  
• Children because they are still developing and can be more sensitive to the adverse health effects of PFAS. For example, toddlers who crawl around on carpets and are more likely to inhale dust or touch surfaces cleaned with PFAS containing cleaners. Another example would be teenagers, although less sensitive to the health effects than a younger child, teenagers are consistently eating and drinking to support growth.

As the science and our knowledge of PFAS continues to improve, the health effects of PFAS exposure are becoming better understood. However, there are still thousands of different types of PFAS chemicals that have not been studied and their health effects remain unknown. Currently, some of the known health effects caused by PFAS exposure include:

• High blood pressure and increased risk of miscarriage in pregnant women
• Varying levels of Infertility issues and increased risk of testicular cancer for men
• Low birth weight, accelerated puberty, asthma, developmental and behavioral issues in children
• Increased risk of prostate and kidney cancer in adults
• Increased cholesterol and/or higher rate of hypertension and obesity
• Liver Damage
• Decreased vaccine response and immunotoxicity

Most PFOA and PFOS have been voluntarily phased out by U.S. manufactures. However, there are a limited amount of industries that still works with PFOA and PFOS.

The EPA suggests some practical steps a person can take to limit their exposure to PFAS. These steps include the following for people who are served by a public drinking water supplier.

• Determine if PFAS is in your drinking water by reaching out to your local water utility and asking them to share any current testing information.
• Consider installing an in-home water treatment filter system that is certified for the treatment of PFAS.
• Consult with your doctor about the risk/reward ratio if you are planning on breastfeeding.
• Stop or limit eating fish that are from contaminated waters. You can determine which water may be contaminated by contacting your local state’s fish advisory program. The EPA website includes contacts for each state's advisory program.
• If you have concerns that a household item may contain PFAS please contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission @ 1-800-638-2772
• If you wish to use an alternative source of water to cook, clean, and drink, be sure to research where that water is coming from and what specific steps are used to treat for PFAS.