The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the cancer agency of the World Health Organization (WHO), has evaluated the carcinogenicity of “forever chemicals” perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and concluded that PFOA is carcinogenic to humans and PFOS is possibly carcinogenic to humans.
PFOA and PFOS are widespread in our daily lives and the environment. Exposure to PFAS is linked to cancers, weakened immune systems among children, weight gain, and a wide range of other health problems.They have also been specifically found in yoga pants, Teflon and non stick pans, popcorn and other food packaging, carpets, building materials, cosmetics, cookware, waterproof clothing, and firefighting foams. PFOA and PFOS have also been found in drinking-water supplies, especially near sites where they are produced or used extensively.
Take Action (From NRDC)
The best way to find out whether your item of clothing is PFAS-free is to check the brand’s website to see if it has announced that it has eliminated PFAS from its clothing or labeled clothing lines as PFAS-free. If no information is available, contact customer service to ask directly. Don’t be fooled by labels or promises that a product is “PFOA-free” or “PFOS-free,” since those two particular PFAS chemicals have already been eliminated from U.S. production and there are many other PFAS-containing substitutes in widespread use.
Review the brands covered on NRDC’s PFAS apparel scorecard. You can also check out PFAS Central, a project of the Green Science Policy Institute, which offers a helpful list of products and brands that state they offer PFAS-free outdoor gear, apparel, and other products.
PEER is urging EPA to regulate PFAS as a class of chemicals and to classify waste contaminated with PFAS as a hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), so that it can be more safely managed during generation, transportation, and disposal. In addition, PEER continues to expose how EPA violates its own scientific integrity norms and guidance in approving PFAS chemicals for use. We also work vigorously to release to the public information on PFAS that EPA tries to keep hidden from the public.
“We applaud the WHO on reviewing the latest science on forever chemicals. Worldwide, policies are urgently needed to address this environmental exposure. Now, it is time to review the latest science on cell phone and wireless radiation. Epigenetic effects as well as oxidative stress have been found in studies on wireless radiofrequency,” stated Dr. Devra Davis, President of Environmental Health Trust pointing out that in 2011, the World Health Organization International Agency for Cancer (WHO/IARC) classified cell phone radiofrequency radiation as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B), based on scientific evidence finding an increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer, associated with wireless phone use. (See WHO/ IARC 2011 press release). As that determination was a decade ago, the WHO/IARC advisory group now has recommended wireless be re-evaluated as a “high priority” within 5 years due – largely in part- to the recent large scale animal research studies (Falconi, 2018; NTP, 2018) which found evidence for cancer (IARC, 2019).
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the cancer agency of the World Health Organization (WHO), has evaluated the carcinogenicity of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS).
PFOA and PFOS are widely used chemicals in a large group of fluorinated compounds called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), sometimes called “forever chemicals” because they do not degrade easily.
A Working Group of 30 international experts from 11 countries was convened by the IARC Monographs programme for a meeting on 7–14 November 2023 in Lyon.
After thoroughly reviewing the extensive published literature, the Working Group classified PFOA as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1) and PFOS as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B).
A summary of the final evaluations has now been published online in The Lancet Oncology. The detailed assessment will be published in 2024 as Volume 135 of the IARC Monographs.
Results of the evaluation
The Working Group conducted a cancer hazard evaluation of PFOA and PFOS.
PFOA is carcinogenic to humans (Group 1), on the basis of sufficient evidence for cancer in experimental animals and strong mechanistic evidence (for epigenetic alterations and immunosuppression) in exposed humans. There was also limited evidence for cancer in humans (renal cell carcinoma and testicular cancer) and strong mechanistic evidence in human primary cells and experimental systems (for epigenetic alterations and immunosuppression, as well as several other key characteristics of carcinogens).
PFOS is possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B), on the basis of strong mechanistic evidence across test systems, including in exposed humans (for epigenetic alterations and immunosuppression, as well as several other key characteristics of carcinogens). There was also limited evidence for cancer in experimental animals and inadequate evidence regarding cancer in humans.
Exposure to PFOA and PFOS
PFOA and PFOS are ubiquitously present in the environment, even in the most remote areas. They have also been specifically found in a wide range of products, such as food packaging, carpets, building materials, cosmetics, cookware, waterproof clothing, and firefighting foams, and they have many other industrial applications. PFOA and PFOS have also been found in drinking-water supplies, especially near sites where they are produced or used extensively.
Exposures are expected to be highest among workers involved in producing PFOA or PFOS or using these chemicals directly in the manufacture of other products. Inhalation is thought to be the main route of exposure for workers, although dermal exposure is possible. Since restrictions on the use of these agents in some countries came into effect, occupational exposure is likely to have decreased, although it is likely to be continuing in countries that have not introduced restrictions. There is continuing exposure in waste management.
PFOA and, to a much larger extent, PFOS have been widely used in some firefighting foams (also known as aqueous film-forming foams, AFFFs), which are used particularly in airport and military firefighting operations as well as in training. The use of PFOA and PFOS in these applications has been banned in many countries, but exposure of firefighters to PFOA and PFOS is possible when old stocks of AFFFs are used.
The general population is exposed mainly via food and drinking-water, and potentially via consumer products. At contaminated sites, drinking-water is the main exposure source for the general population.
IARC Monographs classification
The IARC Monographs classification indicates the strength of the evidence that a substance or agent can cause cancer. The IARC Monographs programme seeks to identify cancer hazards, meaning the potential for the agent to cause cancer. For example, Group 1 is the highest strength-of-evidence category, indicating that an agent can cause cancer. However, the classification does not indicate the level of cancer risk associated with exposure at different levels or in different scenarios. The cancer risk associated with substances or agents that are assigned the same classification may be very different, depending on factors such as the type and extent of exposure and the size of the effect of the agent at a given exposure level.
