Studies of communities and individuals exposed to PFAS have shown that certain PFAS may:
- negatively affect growth, learning, and behavior of infants and older children;
- lower a woman’s chance of getting pregnant;
- impair thyroid function;
- increase cholesterol levels;
- decrease immune system function; and,
- increase risk of certain types of cancer, including testicular and kidney cancer.
Animal toxicity studies are also a helpful starting point for understanding potential health effects. Laboratory studies in animals showed:
- increased pancreatic cancer
- birth defects, delayed development, and newborn deaths in lab animals
- delayed mammary gland development; and,
- effects on brain development
Humans and animals react differently to PFAS and not all effects observed in animals may occur in humans.
Whether or not you develop health problems after being exposed to PFAS depends on how much, how often, and for how long you are exposed, as well as which PFAS you are exposed to. Personal factors including age, lifestyle, and overall health can impact your body’s ability to respond to chemical exposures.
Researchers are working to better understand how exposure to PFAS might affect people’s health — especially how exposure to PFAS in water and food may be harmful. NCDHHS continues to work with various federal and state partners to review all new health and toxicity information about these compounds and shares new information with communities as it becomes available. For more information please visit the NC DHHS website
