In an article published on July 19, 2016 by news provider Bloomberg BNA, reporter Pat Rizzuto informs that a scientific panel, consisting of epidemiologists, toxicologists, microbiologists, and other scientists, and the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) concluded that perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA, CAS 335-67-1) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS, CAS 1763-23-1) are presumably hazardous to the human immune system. The NTP and the peer-review panel separately examined scientific evidence on immune suppression for PFOA and PFOS and reached similar conclusions. The strongest evidence supporting that both chemicals could be hazardous to the human immune system is provided by animal studies showing that the chemicals reduce the ability of antibodies to fight viruses, bacteria, and other microorganisms.
PFOA and PFOS have been commonly used in products such as food packaging, lubricants, water-resistant coatings, and aqueous fire-fighting foams. The chemicals are no longer manufactured in the U.S. and most of Europe, however production appears to have shifted to Asia, Rizzuto writes. On May 19, 2016 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released voluntary guidance suggesting that if drinking water concentrations for both PFOA and PFOS are below a benchmark of 0.07 µg/L (70 parts per trillion) for a lifetime, no harm to human health is expected. Currently, chemical manufacturer DuPont and its spinoff Chemours are facing 3,500 personal injury law suits for the adverse health effects linked to PFOA exposure (FPF reported).
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Pat Rizzuto (July 19, 2016). “PFOA, PFOS likely hazardous to immune system: Scientists.” Bloomberg BNA
Rebecca Trager (July 20, 2016). “DuPont found liable in second of 3400 cancer cases.” Chemistry World
