Perfluorinated compound
Perfluorinated Compound
Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) (pronunciation: per-fluoro-inated com-pounds) are a group of chemicals that are man-made and not naturally occurring in the environment. They are used in a variety of industrial and consumer products such as non-stick cookware, stain resistant fabric and carpet, some food packaging, and fire-fighting foam.
Etymology
The term "perfluorinated" is derived from the chemistry term "fluorination", which is a type of chemical reaction where fluorine atoms are introduced into a compound. The prefix "per" indicates that all possible positions where a fluorine atom can be added have been occupied.
Related Terms
- Fluorocarbon: A type of compound that contains only carbon and fluorine atoms. Perfluorinated compounds are a type of fluorocarbon.
- Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE): A type of perfluorinated compound that is used to make non-stick cookware.
- Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS): These are two types of perfluorinated compounds that have been widely used and studied due to their persistence in the environment and potential health effects.
Health Effects
Exposure to certain perfluorinated compounds, such as PFOA and PFOS, has been associated with a variety of health effects in humans. These include developmental effects in fetuses and infants, liver effects, immune effects, thyroid effects, and potential links to cancer. However, more research is needed to fully understand these effects and their implications for human health.
Environmental Impact
Perfluorinated compounds are extremely persistent in the environment due to the strength of the carbon-fluorine bond. They can travel long distances in the air and water, and they can accumulate in the bodies of people and wildlife. This persistence, combined with their potential health effects, has led to increasing concern about the environmental impact of these compounds.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Perfluorinated compound
- Wikipedia's article - Perfluorinated compound
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