Per-fluoroalkyl substances and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
PFAS are a large group of manufactured compounds. Some stay in the environment and in our bodies for a long time.
What PFAS are
PFAS are a group of over 4,000 manufactured compounds, often used as:
- surfactants
- coatings
- treatments to repel oil, grease and water.
They are a global concern because some of them:
- do not quickly decompose or break down in the environment
- accumulate in the tissues of living organisms for long periods of time.
How PFAS get into the environment
A range of consumer products have contained different types of PFAS in the past, such as surface-protective coatings on:
- clothing
- carpets
- paper packaging.
Recent efforts to remove PFAS in many of these products have reduced the likelihood of exposure. Research has suggested that exposure from consumer products is usually low.
How PFAS get into your body
PFAS are found in the blood of people and animals all over the world. Some exposure to PFAS cannot be avoided as they are in a range of food and other consumer products and in the environment at low levels.
Health effects caused by exposure to PFAS
There is no conclusive evidence that PFAS exposure will result in future health problems. The evidence of health effects is not clear, and some effects may not be clinically significant.
Investigations into PFAS
In 2017 the Ministry for the Environment – Manatū Mō Te Taiao began an all-of-Government programme to help councils and landowners:
- investigate the extent of PFAS contamination in Aotearoa New Zealand
- manage this emerging contaminant.
Crown sites, such as airforce bases that historically used fluorinated firefighting foams, undertook investigations. Some regional councils also investigated PFAS to better understand the sites that may pose a risk to their communities, alongside other contaminated land issues.
PFAS - Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances — Ministry for the Environmentexternal link