Toxicology of Perfluoroalkyl Acids

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The perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are a family of organic chemicals consisting of a perfluorinated carbon backbone (4-12 in length) and an acidic functional moiety (carboxylate or sulfonate). These compounds have excellent surface-tension reducing properties and have numerous industrial and consumer applications. However, they are chemically stable, persistent in the environment, ubiquitously distributed, and present in humans and wildlife. The rates of PFAA elimination and their body burden accumulation appear to be dependent on carbon-chain length, functional moieties, and animal species. Recent laboratory studies have indicated a host of adverse health effects associated with exposure to PFAAs; these include carcinogenicity, hepatotoxicity, developmental toxicity, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity and endocrine disruption. The modes of PFAA actions are not well understood, but are thought to involve in part, activation of nuclear receptor molecular signals. In general, extent of the PFAA toxicity corresponds to chain lengths of the chemical, which likely reflects the pharmacokinetic properties of these fluorochemicals as well as their potency of actions. This abstract does not necessarily reflect US EPA policy.