Health Impact

– Increases risk of cancer, but still yet to be proven as a carcinogen.

– European Food Safety Authority (EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain 2020) believes that there is not adequate evidence for a link between exposure to PFAS and cancer risk in humans.

– The C8 Science Panel detected longitudinal evidence for increased testicular cancer risk (1.35, 95% CI 1.00–1.79) for cumulative PFOA exposure.

– Overall, the available data provides strong evidence that PFAS exposure can suppress the human immune response.

– Less antibody regeneration, often causing less vaccine efficacy.

– Predominantly immunosuppressive, causing reduction in antibodies and spleen weight.

– Probable link of PFOA exposure to thyroid disease, altering human thyroid hormones.

– Human thyroid disease is 5 to 10 times more prevalent in women than men.

– Hypothyroid disease is linked in both sexes.

– Supported relationship between utero exposure to PFOA and PFOS and reduced fetal growth in animals and humans.

– Exposure to PFOA impairs human sperm motility and sperm penetration into viscous media and is longitudinally associated with lower sperm concentration and count and higher adjusted levels of luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones in young men.

– Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies suggest PFAS leads to high cholesterol levels in adults and children.

– A review of population and toxicity data concluded that dyslipidemia (abnormal amount of lipids) is the strongest metabolic outcome of PFAS exposure.

– Some reviews of the available epidemiological and toxicological evidence suggest causative links between PFAS and diminished kidney function and chronic kidney disease.

– Evidence is accumulating for PFAS as a cause of chronic disease and kidney cancer. Study designs must consider the peculiar PFAS excretion mechanics involved in and associated with kidney disease.