Studies identified an increased risk of testicular cancer when people are exposed to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a chemical compound of PFAS (per-and polyfluorinated substances), according to the American Cancer Society. This means there is a strong potential that PFAS causes testicular cancer.
PFAS is known as a “toxic forever chemical,” which was previously used by major companies across the U.S., according to Bloomberg Law. Companies such as 3M and DuPont use PFAS to create “fluoropolymer coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A man-made chemical, PFAS originated in the 1940s and was used in a variety of countries aside from the U.S. The two major components of PFAS are PFOA and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid). Both of these compounds are dangerous to humans, as the CDC reports they cannot break down in the environment and can slowly accumulate inside our bodies over time.
Additional Health Effects from PFAS
PFAS is known to cause a variety of health effects for humans, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Some additional health effects include:
- Cancer (bladder, blood, kidney, liver, pancreatic, prostate, testicular, thyroid)
- Low birth weights
- Preeclampsia
- Thyroid (hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroiditis, Hashimoto’s, Grave’s, Goiter, thyroid nodules)
- Ulcerative colitis
The EPA also announced that they began lab tests on animals to determine additional health effects. While these health effects are not the same for humans, the EPA states that “PFOA and PFOS can cause reproductive and developmental, liver and kidney, and immunological effects in laboratory animals.”
When humans continuously use products that expose them to PFAS, it puts them at risk of seeing the chemical accumulate slowly over time inside their body. Regardless of how the human was exposed to PFAS, such as from drinking water or food, it can eventually lead to these mentioned health effects.
Widespread contamination can take place when PFAS manufacturers, or locations that use PFAS materials (such as military bases for firefighting foam), wrongfully dispose of these PFAS chemicals into the environment.
The EPA’s PFAS Action Plan
Unfortunately, the EPA has not yet fully regulated the production of PFAS materials in the U.S. This means that major businesses, such as 3M, can continue to make dangerous products that contain PFOA, such as Teflon and non-stick consumer products.
Instead, the EPA created a PFAS Action Plan, which correlates with the EPA’s Safe Drinking Act to limit the amounts of PFOA and PFOS that are emitted into the country’s drinking water. In order to enforce this, the EPA abides by their Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) processes to oversee both PFOA and PFOS levels.
Where PFAS Can Be Found
If you are wondering if PFAS can cause testicular cancer, you might also be wondering where these toxic forever chemicals can be found to cause this type of cancer.
There are a variety of places in which PFAS can be found, as the EPA states toxic forever chemicals can be found in:
- Contaminated food (when grown in soil exposed to PFAS)
- Drinking water
- Commercial household products
- Workplaces
- Living organisms
The EPA advises that there are several types of commercial household products that have PFAS chemicals in them. For example, these products include:
- Stain- and water-repellent fabrics
- Nonstick products (such as Teflon)
- Polishes
- Waxes
- Paints
- Cleaning products
Seek Justice for PFAS-Related Damages with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm
There are several cases over the years where PFAS litigation took place. For example, the State of Minnesota filed a lawsuit against 3M back in 2010. The settlement reached over $800 million in 2018 for 3M’s PFAS emissions contaminating the Twin Cities drinking water supply and natural resources.
The manufacturing and health effects resulting from PFAS influenced victims across the country to pursue class-action lawsuits for their damages. If you or someone you love suffered due to PFAS exposure, contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today.
Our law firm offers nationwide availability, and we offer free consultations. To get started with a PFAS contamination lawsuit, call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 788-4155.