Perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFAs, PFOAs + PFCs) are used worldwide as an industrial surfactant.
These chemicals can be found in foundations, primers, and other cream or liquid cosmetic products. They are linked to cancer and environmental destruction. PFAS are considered “Forever Chemicals” with an astonishing level of environmental persistence.
Furthermore, the Environmental protection Agency states “PFAS can be found in:
Certain PFAS chemicals are no longer manufactured in the United States as a result of phase-outs including the PFOA Stewardship Program in which eight major chemical manufacturers agreed to eliminate the use of PFOA and PFOA-related chemicals in their products and as emissions from their facilities.” [1]
PFOAs were banned in the United States in 2014. The EPA has also proposed further regulation on PFAs. The European Union banned PFOs in 2008, and PFOAs will be banned by 2020.
[1] EPA. Basic Information on PFAS/What are PFAS? https://www.epa.gov/pfas/basic-information-pfas
[2] EPA. Risk Management for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) under TSCA. (2006). https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/risk-management-and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas#tab-3
[3] Business Insider. ‘Forever chemicals’ linked to cancer and developmental issues lurk in the blood of almost every American. Here’s how to avoid them. (2019). https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-avoid-pfas-in-water-and-food-2019-8
[4] NIH. NCBI. PFOA and Cancer in a Highly Exposed Community: New Findings from the C8 Science Panel. (2013). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3855507
[5] Live Science. 12 Worst Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals & Their Health Effects. (2013). https://www.livescience.com/40733-hormone-disrupting-chemicals-health.html
[6] European Environmental Agency. Emerging chemical risks in Europe — ‘PFAS’. (2020). https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/human/chemicals/emerging-chemical-risks-in-europe