PFOS and PFOA in Humans: New Study Links Prenatal Exposure to Lower Birth Weight

Abstract

Scientists have accumulated a wealth of evidence that perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA, also known as perfluorooctanoic acid) accumulate in the environment and humans. Animal studies have shown these compounds to cause a variety of health effects, including reduced birth size and infant mortality. Now researchers are presenting the first evidence to suggest that human exposure to the chemicals is linked to reduced birth weight [EHP 115:1670–1676; Apelberg et al.].