Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), also known as C8, and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFO) have made headlines in recent years as the health risks associated with these chemicals have received increasing attention. This compound belongs to the broader class of perfluoroalkyl compounds, which have recently been considered harmless. However, recent research has shown that they can pose health and environmental hazards.

In recent decades, PFOA and PFO have become very popular compounds among industrial manufacturers. This is a worrying example of how a lack of experimentation can go hand in hand with beneficial uses to the detriment of individuals and the environment.

As such, these chemicals are now ubiquitous in the environment and the species that inhabit them, including humans. PFO and PFOA decompose very slowly in the environment, so the risk of contamination remains for a long time. To learn more about what PFOA and PFO are, visit www.watercontaminationlawsuits.com/pfas-water-lawsuit-faqs.asp.

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They are no longer classified as pollutants because they have a peculiar behavior that makes them difficult to detect. Most of the pollutants that harm living things accumulate in adipose tissue, but these chemicals bind to proteins. According to the EPA, PFO and PFOA accumulate readily in large quantities in living species and their estimated half-life in humans is 4 years.

To shed more light on this topic, it's important to understand exactly what these connections are and where they might exist. We will then develop the associated risks and examine if and how they can be avoided.

What are PFOA and PFO?

PFO is perfluorooctane sulfonate, and PFOA is perfluorooctanoic acid; both belong to the perfluoroalkyl substances class of compounds (PFAS). These synthetic compounds offer several advantages for industrial use, particularly water and oil resistance. Because of their ability to inhibit water and fat, they have been used in a wide variety of products.

What are their applications?

These compounds have been used for decades, but the health and environmental consequences of their use have only recently come to light. PFOs and PFOAs have been used for their water-resistance and non-stick properties since the 1950s.