Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
Learn about PFAS, their health risks and how to reduce your exposure.
On this page
- About PFAS
- Safety of PFAS
- What we’re doing to reduce your exposure to PFAS
- What you can do to reduce your exposure to PFAS
About PFAS
PFAS are a broad group of over 4,700 human-made substances that are used in a wide range of products, such as:
- drugs
- vehicles
- lubricants
- cosmetics
- surfactants
- electronics
- firefighting foams
- non-stick cookware
- food packaging materials
- repellents (for dirt, water and grease)
- textiles (carpets, furniture and clothing)
PFAS are also in foams used by firefighters to extinguish fuel fires. They are distinct from flame retardants, which work to prevent items from catching on fire.
PFAS do not break down easily and remain in the environment for long periods of time. People are exposed to PFAS from many different sources, including products available to consumers, food, drinking water, outdoor and indoor air, and house dust.
Safety of PFAS
Due to their widespread use and persistence in the environment, humans are continuously exposed to multiple PFAS. PFAS may affect:
- the immune and nervous systems
- the liver, kidney and thyroid
- development and the reproductive system
What we’re doing to reduce your exposure to PFAS
Under Canada’s Chemicals Management Plan, we review and manage the potential risks that chemical substances can pose to people in Canada and the environment.
We have published a draft State of PFAS Report summarizing information available to date on PFAS. We have also published a risk management scope that outlines the controls we are considering implementing to limit environmental releases of PFAS. These controls include:
- adding PFAS as a class to the List of Toxic Substances under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
- this would allow Canada to implement preventive or control actions for the life cycle of the substance, including:
- research and development
- manufacture
- use
- storage
- transport
- disposal or recycling
- this would allow Canada to implement preventive or control actions for the life cycle of the substance, including:
- aligning with actions in other jurisdictions, where appropriate
- taking regulatory and/or non-regulatory actions to minimize releases of PFAS to the environment from firefighting foams
- gathering information to identify and prioritize options for minimizing releases of PFAS from other products and sources
We are consulting the public on a draft objective for PFAS in drinking water, which recommends a maximum level for total PFAS in drinking water.
We have prohibited the manufacture, use, sale, offer for sale or import of the following substances, with some exemptions:
- Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)
- Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and precursors
- Long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (LC-PFCAs), their salts and precursors
We are also proposing to remove or put a time limit on existing exemptions for these substances.
We have developed and published guidelines to protect Canadians from exposure to PFAS through drinking water, soil and groundwater. These guidelines include:
- drinking water quality guidelines for PFOS and PFOA and screening values for 9 other PFAS
- soil screening values to protect human health from 10 other PFAS
- soil and groundwater quality guidelines for PFOS to protect human health and the environment
We continue to:
- collect and examine information on PFAS
- review what other countries are doing about PFAS
- conduct regular monitoring and surveillance of certain PFAS, both in humans and the environment
We continue to reduce risks from known federal contaminated sites through the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan.
We continue to work with international partners to lower the amount of PFAS that enters the environment. For example, Canada nominated LC-PFCAs for consideration under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in 2021. The Convention is a global treaty that requires countries to control and reduce listed POPs across a range of industries and products. PFOS and PFOA were previously listed to the Convention.
As well, Canada is a member country of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. We participate in the Global Perfluorinated Chemicals Group, which works to reduce emissions of certain perfluorinated chemicals internationally.
What you can do to reduce your exposure to PFAS
You can take steps to reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals.
Read the label:
- If you have questions or concerns about products you use in your home, contact the manufacturer.
Follow local advisories:
- If your drinking water is contaminated above levels specified by the guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality, follow the advice of your local health department or your provincial/territorial government on treating the water or using another source.
- If you live, fish or hunt near a contaminated site, check with local or provincial/territorial health and environment departments for fish or hunting advisories in your area and follow the advisories.
Provide any comments on our State of PFAS Report and risk management scope during the 60-day public comment period.
If you’re exposed to PFAS at work, talk to your employer and occupational health and safety (OHS) official about:
- relevant laws
- safe handling and storage practices
- requirements under OHS legislation and the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
Related links
- Use household chemicals safely
- Measuring your exposure to chemicals
- Ventilation and the indoor environment
- Canada’s systems for addressing chemicals
- Overview of the Chemicals Management Plan
For more information on PFAS
- PFAS
- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Canadians
- Tips to protect your family from chemicals and pollutants
- Long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (LC-PFCAs), their salts and precursors
For industry and professionals
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