Perfluorooctane+acid

toc

**1. Abstract**
Perfluorooctane acid is the main ingredient in Scotchgard and other things that are used by almost everyone. Its found in most cleaning products. They started to find traces of it in bloodstreams of humans and animals around 1997.

The EPA started investigating the chemical after it was found in humans bloodstreams. Its mainly found in non-stick cookware, and rain gear. The National Toxicology Program still continues to investigate the chemical so that they can better understand it. The EPA doesn’t know how the chemical got into the environment but it doesn’t degrade into it. I think that its good that the EPA and the National Toxicology Program are still years later looking into the chemical and where it comes from. 3M found the chemical dangerous in 2000. It’s not good that its in non-stick cookware though and that people still use it in there house everyday. I do wonder how long it would take to find out how perfluorooctane acid really does hurt people so they know they really need to watch out.

**2. Background**
Perfluorooctane acid is a main ingredient in Scotchgard which protects carpets, fabrics, etc. It is also found in most cleaning products that are just for general use. Perfluorooctane acids were in a lot of things that are used in houses by almost everyone.

I’m not sure about other places but the chemical isn’t used in the European Union anymore due to the health concerns. Perfluorooctane acid is a persistent organic pollutant, which is a compound that is resistant to environmental degrading. Though it is not all that bad for the environment around 1997 they started finding traces of PFOA in the tissues of polar bears, dolphins, and was also found in peoples blood samples all over the world. After running some tests on rats PFOA were considered toxic.

**3. Synthesis/Production**
PFOA’s were produced by 3M and other manufacturers, and by environmental degradation of some PFOS percurors. In 2000 3M announced that it was ceasing manufacturing of POSF-based materials after PFOS was in humans and wildlife. PFOA’s are produced by environmental degradion of some PFOS.

**4. Human Health Implications**
Perfluorooctane acid was found in people and animals bloodstreams it was causing developmental and other effects in laboratory animals that is why the EPA decided to investigate the chemical in the 1st place. They aren’t exactly sure how it gets into the bloodstream or how it affects human development. PFOA’s are mainly found in non-stick cookware, and rain gear. Since it’s an acid its not exactly good for the environment or anyone. The National Toxicology Program is still conducting studies on the chemical so they can better understand it.

**5. Environmental Implications**
The EPA started to investigate PFOA in the 1st place because low levels of the chemical was being found in the environment and people alike. They don’t exactly know how this chemical affects the environment but the chemical is very persistent in staying there. One of the biggest problems with the chemical is that is doesn’t degrade into the environment, it just makes it all that much harder to get rid of.

PFOA: C8HF15O2

**6. Economic/Political Impact**
PFOA’s are already banned back in 2000 by 3M because they’ve been found in peoples bloodstreams. We still have the products it was in its just that they had to change there ingredence but 3M did not say how much money it cost to do so. No one really knows exactly how it gets into peoples bloodstreams or what it will do to those people in the future if anything.

**7. Summary**
Back in 2000 3M took PFOA’s out of its products. PFOA’s where also found in rain gear and non-stick cookwear which means people are still around PFOA’s everyday because you know that there are still people out there who use non-stick cookware because they didn’t hear it can affect you.

**8. PSA**
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