Public Health
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Your Health
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals that are persistent (i.e., they do not break down) in the environment. Most people have been exposed at low levels, and according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), PFAS can be detected in the blood of most people. PFAS has been used in the manufacturing of many products internationally, including in non-stick cookware, stain-resistant sofas and carpets, and waterproof clothes and mattresses. People can be exposed to PFAS by drinking water and eating foods contaminated with PFAS (e.g., fish). Until 2016, PFAS was also in some food packaging, such as popcorn bags, fast food containers, and pizza boxes.
In the 1970s, the Department of Defense (DoD) began using PFAS to fight fuel fires. The release of these chemicals into the environment during training and emergency responses is a major source of the PFAS contamination of ground water on several military bases in the United States.
DoD has conducted testing to ensure the safety of drinking water on bases. For bases with PFAS levels above the limit advised by the EPA, bottled water has been given as an alternative.
Exposure to PFAS may result in elevated cholesterol, uric acid, and liver enzymes and changes in immune response. Some health conditions that could possibly be associated with PFAS exposure include thyroid function disorders, ulcerative colitis, testicular cancer, kidney cancer, and pregnancyinduced hypertension.
If you are concerned about PFAS and your health, you should make an appointment with your health care provider. Blood tests for the detection of PFAS are not recommended because most people have measurable amounts of PFAS in their blood, and detection cannot determine a source of exposure, inform treatment decisions, or predict future health outcomes.
You can learn more about PFAS on the VA and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry web pages and find information about ongoing research.
