Perfluorinated Compounds (PFCs)

chemical profile of PFCs - perfluorinated compounds in Teflon and stain-resistant products

About PFCs

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are a family of fluorine-containing chemicals with unique properties to make materials stain- and stick-resistant. Some PFCs are incredibly resistant to breakdown and are turning up in unexpected places around the world.

Manufacturers have developed a host of chemicals in this family to repel oil and water from clothing, carpeting, furniture, and food packaging such as pizza boxes and fast-food containers. Fire-fighting foams have used them, as have cleaners, paints, roof treatments, and hardwood floor protectant.

There are many forms of PFCs, but the two most commonly found contaminants are:

• PFOA or perfluorooctanoic acid, used to make Teflon™ products.
• PFOS or perfluorooctane sulfonate, a breakdown product of chemicals formerly used to make Scotchgard® products.

How am I exposed?

PFCs have been released in large quantities from manufacturing facilities for decades, and thus contaminate our food and some water supplies. PFOS and PFOA are breakdown products of a number of PFCs.

Exposure also occurs from consumer products, house dust, and food packaging. 

• Grease-resistant food packaging and paper products, such as microwave popcorn bags and pizza boxes, contain PFCs.
• PFOS was used until 2002 in the manufacture of 3M's Scotchgard® treatment, used on carpet, furniture, and clothing.
• PFOA is used to make DuPont's Teflon™ product, famous for its use in non-stick cookware. 
• PFCs are in cleaning and personal-care products like shampoo, dental floss, and denture cleaners.

Why should I be concerned?

PFCs are extremely persistent. Researchers are finding serious health concerns about PFCs, including increased risk of cancer.

• PFOA is a likely human carcinogen; it causes liver, pancreatic, testicular, and mammary gland tumors in laboratory animals. PFOS causes liver and thryoid cancer in rats.
• PFCs cause a range of other problems in laboratory animals, including liver and kidney damage, as well as reproductive problems.
•  PFOA’s half-life in our bodies, or the time it would take to expel half of a dose, is estimated at more than 4 years. PFOS’s half-life is estimated at more than 8 years.
• Exposure to PFOA or PFOS before birth has been linked with lower birth weight in both animal and human studies.

What can government and industry do?

PFCs have been produced, used, and disposed of essentially without regulation for the last half-century.

Rising levels of PFCs in the environment and increasing governmental pressure, however, have led to voluntary actions to reduce PFC production and use.

• In 2002, 3M ceased using PFCs for its signature product, Scotchgard®, because of concerns over release of PFOS and PFOA during manufacture and use.
• In early 2006, the EPA, Teflon™ manufacturer DuPont™, and seven other companies announced an agreement to reduce PFOA in emissions from manufacturing plants and in consumer products by 95% by the year 2010.

While these actions are a step in the right direction, they do not adequately protect public health from the dangers posed by PFCs.

The state and federal government should act to phase out PFOA as well as chemicals that break down into PFOA.

• As part of its Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxics Program, Washington state should complete a chemical action plan for PFOA and chemicals that break down into PFOA.
• New federal legislation should include immediate action to phase out PFCs and other persistent toxic chemicals.

How can I reduce my exposure?

• Avoid purchasing or, at a minimum, limit use of products containing PFCs.
• Watch for packaged foods. Stay away from greasy or oily packaged and fast foods, as the packages often contain grease-repellent coatings. Examples include microwave popcorn bags, french fry boxes, and pizza boxes.
• Avoid stain-resistance treatments. Choose furniture and carpets that aren’t marketed as “stain-resistant,” and don’t apply finishing treatments such as Stainmaster® to these or other items. Where possible, choose alternatives to clothing that has been treated for water or stain resistance, such as outerwear and sportswear. Other products that may be treated include shoes, luggage, and camping and sporting equipment.
• Check your personal-care products. Avoid personal-care products made with Teflon™ or containing ingredients that include the words ”fluoro” or ”perfluoro.” PFCs can be found in dental floss and a variety of cosmetics, including nail polish, facial moisturizers, and eye make-up.
• Avoid Teflon™ or non-stick cookware. If you choose to continue using non-stick cookware, be very careful not to let it heat to above 450ºF. Do not leave non-stick cookware unattended on the stove, or use non-stick cookware in hot ovens or grills. Discard products if non-stick coatings show signs of deterioration.

Additional Resources