Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
What is PFAS?
PFAS is the name for a group of manmade chemicals that have been manufactured and used worldwide since the 1940s. They are used in many consumer products due to their heat resistance, chemical stability and ability to repel water and oil. PFAS is an emerging contaminant, more research is needed to fully understand PFAS exposure pathways, risks to humans, and the best methods to detect and remove PFAS from our environment. Due to its widespread use and the persistent nature of the chemicals, PFAS has been found in low levels throughout the environment and within many fish and wildlife species.
Human Health Effects
Current research suggests that exposure to certain levels of PFAS can lead to adverse health outcomes such as increased risk of cancers (prostate, kidney, testicular), developmental delays in children, decreased fertility, high blood pressure in pregnant woman, and decreased functioning of the liver, thyroid and/or immune system.
More information about PFAS is needed to better understand the risks they pose and to be able to take effective actions to protect human health and the environment. Identifying the risk a chemical may pose to human health is a scientific process. It involves determining how much of a chemical is present in the environment, how much a person comes in contact with the chemical, and how toxic or harmful the chemical is to people.
It is important to understand how toxic a chemical is and how much a person is exposed to the chemical before health risks can be identified and steps to reduce these risks can be taken. Research is underway to increase our understanding regarding how harmful are PFAS, how people are exposed, and the best ways to find and measure PFAS in the air, water, wastewater, fish, and other sites.
Where is PFAS found?
PFAS are man-made chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products worldwide since the 1950s. Examples of products where PFAS have been used include:
- Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) used to extinguish flammable liquid fires and used in training and other emergency response events
- Grease-resistant and waterproof coatings on food packaging (pizza boxes, popcorn bags, takeout containers, and fast food wrappers)
- Nonstick Cookware
- Food including fish from contaminated waters or dairy products from exposed livestock
- Cosmetics and personal care products
- Household products and dust such as stain and water-repellent products used on carpets, upholstery, clothing, and other fabrics; cleaning products; non-stick cookware; paints, varnishes, and sealants
- Manufacturing or chemical production facilities that produce or use PFAS (chrome plating, electronics, and certain textile and paper manufacturers)
- Biosolids such as fertilizer from wastewater treatment plants
During production and use, PFAS can migrate into the soil, water, and air. Most PFAS do not breakdown, so they remain in the environment. Because of their widespread use and their persistence in the environment, 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. While it is difficult to show that substances directly cause health conditions in humans, scientific studies have shown that exposure to some PFAS in the environment may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals. More research is needed to better understand the health effects of PFAS exposure.
What is being done?
The Connecticut Interagency PFAS Task Force has developed a PFAS Action Plan to minimize environmental exposure to PFAS, minimize future environmental releases, and to identify, assess and clean up historically contaminated areas.
Other Resources
Meaningful and Achievable Steps You Can Take To Reduce Your Risk