Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA): Global Occurrence, Exposure & Health Effects

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are a group of organofluorine, aliphatic hydrocarbons, of which all or almost all hydrogen atoms are replaced with fluorine. They have a wide range of industrial and consumer applications such as stain, paints, hydraulic fluids, firefighting foams, production of fluoropolimers, cosmetics, insecticide formulations, textile treatments, surface coatings for carpets and furniture, cookware and water- and oil- resistant coatings for food contact materials. PFCs are extremely resistant towards thermal, chemical and biological degradation processes. There is now no evidence for their degradability and they decompose only at very high temperatures using a specially prepared furnaces. The authors of this book summarise the recent information on the occurrence, exposure and health effects caused by perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).