Posted: Friday, March 31, 2006

REPORT
Publication Date: March 31, 2006

A position paper of the American Council on Science and Health -- upon which our more layperson-friendly booklet Teflon and Human Health: Do the Charges Stick? was based -- appeared in Vol. 9 (No.s 5-6) of the journal Technology and began with the following abstract:

Concern has been raised about the possible human health effects of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and related compounds, which have been detected in human blood in a number of locations.  Evidence suggests that these compounds are persistent in the environment and in the human body.  Studies of laboratory animals indicate that high doses can result in liver and kidney toxicity, and developmental and carcinogenic effects.  However, the compounds do not appear to be mutagens.  From mechanistic considerations, the relevance to humans of at least some of the effects seen in animals is questionable.  Toxicities observed in animals have not been seen in worker populations.  Comparisons of both blood levels and drinking water exposures of PFOA in the general population to levels associated with adverse effects in laboratory animals demonstrate that a margin of safety of hundreds to thousands exist.  Thus, current data indicate that the risk to the general population from PFOA and related compounds is quite low.