If you are concerned about PFAS (per-and polyfluorinated substances) contamination, you may wonder about what the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says about PFAS.
According to the EPA, PFAS can cause several health effects to humans when exposed to it. This is due to PFAS remaining in the environment over time and its inability to break down once it emits.
This can pose a serious health risk for humans once they have come in contact with PFAS chemicals, which include both perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).
The EPA says that PFAS exist in a variety of locations, such as at manufacturing plants that use PFAS to create products. The EPA warns that PFAS chemicals can be found in a variety of consumer products, such as:
- Carpet
- Leather and apparel
- Textiles
- Paper and packaging
- Coatings
- Rubber and plastics
Furthermore, the EPA says that while PFAS is no longer manufactured in the U.S., it can still be imported into the country with products that have used either PFOA or PFOS to create them.
What the EPA Says About PFAS Exposure
Additionally, the EPA says that PFAS can be found in other ways once it emits out into the environment. According to the EPA, PFAS can exist in:
- Food
- Drinking water
- Workplaces
- Living Organisms
- Commercial household products
Our food can be greatly impacted once PFAS chemicals have either contaminated the groundwater or soil used to grow our food supplies. There have been several studies conducted on food supplies in the U.S. that show negative impacts from PFAS exposure, according to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA).
The EPA has also started the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) in response to PFAS contaminating drinking water supplies around the country. It established this act to create effective water-safety standards.
Types of PFAS Exposure
There are several ways in which humans can suffer exposure to PFAS. People can experience exposure to PFAS from food, water, consumer goods, and PFAS production facilities.
Because PFAS is used in stain-repellent and water-repellent items, it poses a risk to humans that use these items to prepare food. With drinking water exposure, the EPA states that PFAS chemicals appeared in a number of drinking water systems due to localized contamination.
Health Effects From PFAS
According to the EPA, there are several health effects in which humans are at risk of facing when exposed to PFAS in the environment. These health effects include:
- Increased cholesterol levels
- Impacts on infant birth weight
- Immune system complications
- Thyroid hormone disruption
Additionally, the EPA states that PFOA can lead to the development of certain cancers. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry found similar health issues arising from exposure to PFAS.
Fight for Justice with a PFAS Contamination Lawyer
When major companies negligently contaminate the environment and our drinking water supplies with PFAS chemicals, they deserve to be held accountable.
If you have been a victim of toxic exposure from PFAS chemicals, you may be eligible to start or join a PFAS contamination class-action lawsuit. At Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, we believe in fighting for justice when innocent people are injured from toxic exposure such as PFAS.
If you feel you have a PFAS contamination claim, contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today by calling us at (800) 788-4155.