Human exposure to PFAS has been associated with adverse effects on the immune, endocrine, metabolic, and reproductive systems (including fertility and pregnancy outcomes), and increased risk for cancer. [1]
Once exposed, PFAS is widely distributed throughout the body, accumulating mostly in the kidneys, liver, and blood since it can bind to albumin. Rates of elimination vary across the type of compound and animal species with differences in age and sex, but humans normally eliminate these substances through urine. Some elimination half-lives include 72–81 h for PFBA, 2.1–8.5 years for PFOA, and 3.1–7.4 years for PFOS. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has conducted an extensive literature review of epidemiological studies involving PFOA, PFOS, and 12 other PFAS that suggest links between PFAS exposure and health outcomes in humans, published in PFAS’ ATSDR toxicological profile presented in Table 1.
