Understanding the Health Concerns
More and more research has come out linking PFAS exposure to serious health problems, with cancer leading the way as the most concerning. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), one of the most studied PFAS compounds, as carcinogenic to humans. Studies also show correlations between PFAS exposure and increased risks of kidney and testicular cancers. These chemicals are associated with liver damage, thyroid disease, decreased fertility, low birth weight, and a suppressed immune response to vaccines. In short, they’re bad. The health effects are particularly troubling since these chemicals can stay in your body for years – with some of these compounds having a half-life measured in decades.