Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), also known as C8, is one of the most studied and regulated PFAS compounds. It was widely used in the production of Teflon (PTFE) coatings by DuPont and 3M for decades. PFOA does not break down in the environment or the human body, earning its classification as a "forever chemical." Its production was largely phased out in the US by 2015 following EPA action, but contamination persists in water systems near former manufacturing and firefighting training sites. PFOA became infamous through the "Dark Waters" lawsuit and film depicting its contamination of Parkersburg, West Virginia. The EPA set its first enforceable limit of 4 ppt in 2024, a dramatic reduction from the previous 70 ppt health advisory.
Where PFOA comes from
Common uses
- Non-stick cookware coatings
- Food packaging
- Stain-resistant textiles
- Firefighting foam (AFFF)
- Semiconductor manufacturing
Industries
- Manufacturing
- Textiles
- Firefighting
- Electronics
Health effects of PFOA exposure
Short-term effects
- No well-documented acute effects at typical exposure levels
- Potential liver enzyme changes
Long-term effects
- Kidney cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Thyroid disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- High cholesterol
- Pregnancy-induced hypertension
- Immune system suppression
- Reduced vaccine effectiveness in children
Most vulnerable populations
- Pregnant women (placental transfer to fetus)
- Infants and young children
- Workers in PFAS manufacturing
- People who drink well water near contamination sites
How to remove PFOA from drinking water
- Reverse osmosis
- 94% removal
- Activated carbon
- 80% removal
- Ion exchange
- 95% removal
Stricter state limits
- Massachusetts
- 20 ppt
- New Jersey
- 14 ppt
- Vermont
- 20 ppt
- Michigan
- 8 ppt
- New York
- 10 ppt
Is PFOA in your water? – Enter your ZIP at KnowYourExposure to see your local EPA test results.