Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Canadians

Information on human biomonitoring of PFAS in Canada with results from the Canadian Health Measures Survey.

On this page

• Background
• Data sources
• Results
• Suggested citation
• Additional information

Background

What are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)?

PFAS are a group of over 4,700 related organic compounds that have a fluorinated carbon chain structure. They are synthetic chemicals with high chemical and thermal stability that can repel water and oils. PFAS persist in the environment and can accumulate in the body over time. Below is a list of 5 PFAS that have been measured in the Canadian population.

Abbreviation	Chemical Name	CASRN
PFOA	Perfluorooctanoic acid	335-67-1
PFNA	Perfluorononanoic acid	375-95-1
PFDA	Perfluorodecanoic acid	335-76-2
PFHxS	Perfluorohexane sulfonate	355-46-4
PFOS	Perfluorooctane sulfonate	1763-23-1

Where are PFAS found?

PFAS are used in a wide range of products and industrial processes, such as surfactants, lubricants and repellents (for dirt, water and grease). They can also be found in products as diverse as firefighting foams, non-stick cookware, cosmetics, food packaging and textiles (such as carpets, furniture and clothing).

How are people exposed to PFAS?

People are exposed to PFAS by eating foods, drinking water, breathing air or swallowing dust contaminated with PFAS, as well as using products made with PFAS or that are packaged in materials containing PFAS. For infants, toddlers and children, hand-to-mouth contact with consumer textile products may be a significant source of exposure.

How are PFAS measured in people?

Some PFAS are well absorbed in the body and not extensively metabolized. PFAS are commonly measured in blood, including whole blood, blood serum and blood plasma. Blood levels of PFAS, such as PFOA and PFOS, can reflect cumulative exposure over several years. The presence of these substances in blood may also result from exposure to other PFAS that can be metabolized to PFOS and PFOA.

What are the potential health impacts of PFAS?

Studies in laboratory animals show that exposure to certain PFAS is associated with reproductive, developmental, endocrine, liver, kidney and immunological effects. Studies in people have found that exposure to PFOA and PFOS can affect the liver and metabolism, the nervous and immune systems as well as the birth weight of infants. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified PFOA as possibly carcinogenic to humans.

What is the Government of Canada doing to lower human exposures to PFAS?

PFOA, PFOS, long-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (such as PFNA and PFDA) and their salts and precursors are identified as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. Health Canada, in collaboration with the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committee on Drinking Water, has developed a draft objective for PFAS in drinking water that proposes a treatment-based value for the sum of PFAS in drinking water. The objective complements existing guidelines for PFOA and PFOS and screening values for 9 other PFAS (including PFNA and PFHxS) in drinking water. The Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2012 prohibits PFOA, PFOS, long-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids, and their salts and precursors in Canada. The Government of Canada published a draft state of PFAS report that summarizes relevant information on the class of PFAS and an accompanying risk management scope document. The Government of Canada continues to monitor a subset of PFAS.

Data sources

Table 1. Biomonitoring initiatives and their target populations

Initiative	Target population
Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS)	General Canadian population living in the 10 provinces
First Nations Biomonitoring Initiative (FNBI)	First Nations people living on-reserve south of the 60° parallel
Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) study	Pregnant women and their infants recruited from obstetric and prenatal clinics in 10 cities across Canada
Nutaratsaliit qanuingisiarningit niqituinnanut (NQN) Pregnancy Wellness with Country Foods project	Pregnant Inuit women in 14 communities of Nunavik
U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)	General U.S. population

This fact sheet presents nationally representative data from the CHMS. These data are compared with data from the FNBI, the MIREC study, the NQN project and the U.S. NHANES.

Table 2. Biomonitoring initiatives and their collection periods, participant age ranges, matrices sampled and biomarkers measured

Collection period	Age range (years)	Matrix	Biomarkers
CHMS
2007–2009	20 to 79	Plasma	PFOA, PFHxS, PFOS
2009–2011	12 to 79	Plasma	PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFHxS, PFOS
2016–2017	3 to 79	Plasma	PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFHxS, PFOS
2018–2019	3 to 79	Plasma	PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFHxS, PFOS
FNBI
2011	20+	Plasma	PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFHxS, PFOS
MIREC study
2008–2011	18+	Plasma	PFOA, PFHxS, PFOS
NQN project
2016–2017	16 to 40	Serum	PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFHxS, PFOS
U.S. NHANES
2007–2008	12+	Serum	PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFHxS, PFOS
2009–2010	12+	Serum	PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFHxS, PFOS
2011–2012	12+	Serum	PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFHxS, PFOS
2013–2014	12+	Serum	PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFHxS, PFOS
2015–2016	12+	Serum	PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFHxS, PFOS

Results

Canadian population

This figure shows the geometric mean concentrations of PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFHxS and PFOS in blood plasma (µg/L) in the Canadian population from the CHMS (2007–2019). Concentrations of PFOA, PFHxS and PFOS represent Canadians aged 20 to 79; those of PFNA and PFDA represent Canadians aged 12 to 79. PFNA and PFDA were not measured in 2007–2009.

Figure 1: Text description

PFAS	Collection period	Geometric mean
PFOA	2007–2009	2.5
PFOA	2009–2011	2.3
PFOA	2016–2017	1.3
PFOA	2018–2019	1.2
PFNA	2009–2011	0.82
PFNA	2016–2017	0.51
PFNA	2018–2019	0.44
PFDA	2009–2011	0.20
PFDA	2016–2017	0.18
PFDA	2018–2019	0.13
PFHxS	2007–2009	2.3
PFHxS	2009–2011	1.8
PFHxS	2016–2017	0.96
PFHxS	2018–2019	0.81
PFOS	2007–2009	8.8
PFOS	2009–2011	6.9
PFOS	2016–2017	3.4
PFOS	2018–2019	2.9

There was a statistically significant decreasing trend over time (P < 0.001) in PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFHxS and PFOS concentrations in the Canadian population aged 12 or 20 to 79. Between 2007–2009 and 2018–2019, PFOA concentrations declined by 52%, PFHxS concentrations declined by 64% and PFOS concentrations declined by 67%. Between 2009–2011 and 2018–2019, PFNA concentrations declined by 47% and PFDA concentrations declined by 36%.

Canadian population, by age group

This figure shows the geometric mean concentrations of PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFHxS and PFOS in blood plasma (µg/L) in the Canadian population by age group from the CHMS (2007–2019). PFAS were measured in individuals aged 20 to 79 in 2007–2009, aged 12 to 79 in 2009–2011 and aged 3 to 79 in 2016–2017. Concentrations were therefore not available (NA) for individuals aged 3 to 19 in 2007–2009 or for individuals aged 3 to 11 in 2009–2011. PFNA and PFDA were not measured in 2007–2009. Geometric mean PFDA concentrations could not be calculated (NC) for individuals aged 3 to 19 in 2018–2019. This was because too many samples were below the analytical limit of detection.

Figure 2: Text description

PFAS	Collection period	Age group (years)	Geometric mean
PFOA	2007–2009	3 to 5	NA
PFOA	2007–2009	6 to 11	NA
PFOA	2007–2009	12 to 19	NA
PFOA	2007–2009	20 to 39	2.4
PFOA	2007–2009	40 to 59	2.5
PFOA	2007–2009	60 to 79	2.7
PFOA	2009–2011	3 to 5	NA
PFOA	2009–2011	6 to 11	NA
PFOA	2009–2011	12 to 19	2.1
PFOA	2009–2011	20 to 39	2.2
PFOA	2009–2011	40 to 59	2.2
PFOA	2009–2011	60 to 79	2.8
PFOA	2016–2017	3 to 5	1.5
PFOA	2016–2017	6 to 11	1.3
PFOA	2016–2017	12 to 19	1.1
PFOA	2016–2017	20 to 39	1.1
PFOA	2016–2017	40 to 59	1.4
PFOA	2016–2017	60 to 79	1.6
PFOA	2018–2019	3 to 5	1.3
PFOA	2018–2019	6 to 11	1.2
PFOA	2018–2019	12 to 19	0.96
PFOA	2018–2019	20 to 39	1.0
PFOA	2018–2019	40 to 59	1.2
PFOA	2018–2019	60 to 79	1.5
PFNA	2009–2011	3 to 5	NA
PFNA	2009–2011	6 to 11	NA
PFNA	2009–2011	12 to 19	0.71
PFNA	2009–2011	20 to 39	0.79
PFNA	2009–2011	40 to 59	0.79
PFNA	2009–2011	60 to 79	1.1
PFNA	2016–2017	3 to 5	0.44
PFNA	2016–2017	6 to 11	0.44
PFNA	2016–2017	12 to 19	0.40
PFNA	2016–2017	20 to 39	0.41
PFNA	2016–2017	40 to 59	0.59
PFNA	2016–2017	60 to 79	0.61
PFNA	2018–2019	3 to 5	0.36
PFNA	2018–2019	6 to 11	0.38
PFNA	2018–2019	12 to 19	0.33
PFNA	2018–2019	20 to 39	0.36
PFNA	2018–2019	40 to 59	0.44
PFNA	2018–2019	60 to 79	0.61
PFDA	2009–2011	3 to 5	NA
PFDA	2009–2011	6 to 11	NA
PFDA	2009–2011	12 to 19	0.15
PFDA	2009–2011	20 to 39	0.22
PFDA	2009–2011	40 to 59	0.17
PFDA	2009–2011	60 to 79	0.25
PFDA	2016–2017	3 to 5	0.14
PFDA	2016–2017	6 to 11	0.14
PFDA	2016–2017	12 to 19	0.12
PFDA	2016–2017	20 to 39	0.16
PFDA	2016–2017	40 to 59	0.21
PFDA	2016–2017	60 to 79	0.21
PFDA	2018–2019	3 to 5	NC
PFDA	2018–2019	6 to 11	NC
PFDA	2018–2019	12 to 19	NC
PFDA	2018–2019	20 to 39	0.11
PFDA	2018–2019	40 to 59	0.13
PFDA	2018–2019	60 to 79	0.17
PFHxS	2007–2009	3 to 5	NA
PFHxS	2007–2009	6 to 11	NA
PFHxS	2007–2009	12 to 19	NA
PFHxS	2007–2009	20 to 39	2.1
PFHxS	2007–2009	40 to 59	2.2
PFHxS	2007–2009	60 to 79	2.8
PFHxS	2009–2011	3 to 5	NA
PFHxS	2009–2011	6 to 11	NA
PFHxS	2009–2011	12 to 19	1.9
PFHxS	2009–2011	20 to 39	1.5
PFHxS	2009–2011	40 to 59	1.8
PFHxS	2009–2011	60 to 79	2.2
PFHxS	2016–2017	3 to 5	0.56
PFHxS	2016–2017	6 to 11	0.55
PFHxS	2016–2017	12 to 19	0.65
PFHxS	2016–2017	20 to 39	0.82
PFHxS	2016–2017	40 to 59	0.89
PFHxS	2016–2017	60 to 79	1.3
PFHxS	2018–2019	3 to 5	0.48
PFHxS	2018–2019	6 to 11	0.50
PFHxS	2018–2019	12 to 19	0.50
PFHxS	2018–2019	20 to 39	0.67
PFHxS	2018–2019	40 to 59	0.78
PFHxS	2018–2019	60 to 79	1.1
PFOS	2007–2009	3 to 5	NA
PFOS	2007–2009	6 to 11	NA
PFOS	2007–2009	12 to 19	NA
PFOS	2007–2009	20 to 39	8.2
PFOS	2007–2009	40 to 59	8.6
PFOS	2007–2009	60 to 79	11
PFOS	2009–2011	3 to 5	NA
PFOS	2009–2011	6 to 11	NA
PFOS	2009–2011	12 to 19	4.6
PFOS	2009–2011	20 to 39	6.2
PFOS	2009–2011	40 to 59	6.4
PFOS	2009–2011	60 to 79	9.4
PFOS	2016–2017	3 to 5	1.7
PFOS	2016–2017	6 to 11	1.7
PFOS	2016–2017	12 to 19	1.9
PFOS	2016–2017	20 to 39	2.5
PFOS	2016–2017	40 to 59	3.8
PFOS	2016–2017	60 to 79	4.5
PFOS	2018–2019	3 to 5	1.4
PFOS	2018–2019	6 to 11	1.5
PFOS	2018–2019	12 to 19	1.6
PFOS	2018–2019	20 to 39	2.3
PFOS	2018–2019	40 to 59	2.9
PFOS	2018–2019	60 to 79	3.9

Concentrations of PFAS were generally higher in adults than in children in the Canadian population.

Canadian population, by sex

This figure shows the geometric mean concentrations of PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFHxS and PFOS in blood plasma (µg/L) in the Canadian population by sex from the CHMS (2007–2019). Concentrations of PFOA, PFHxS and PFOS represent Canadians aged 20 to 79. Concentrations of PFNA and PFDA represent Canadians aged 12 to 79. PFNA and PFDA were not measured in 2007–2009.

Figure 3: Text description

PFAS	Collection period	Sex	Geometric mean
PFOA	2007–2009	Females	2.2
PFOA	2007–2009	Males	2.9
PFOA	2009–2011	Females	2.0
PFOA	2009–2011	Males	2.6
PFOA	2016–2017	Females	1.1
PFOA	2016–2017	Males	1.5
PFOA	2018–2019	Females	1.0
PFOA	2018–2019	Males	1.4
PFNA	2009–2011	Females	0.81
PFNA	2009–2011	Males	0.84
PFNA	2016–2017	Females	0.48
PFNA	2016–2017	Males	0.53
PFNA	2018–2019	Females	0.40
PFNA	2018–2019	Males	0.48
PFDA	2009–2011	Females	0.19
PFDA	2009–2011	Males	0.20
PFDA	2016–2017	Females	0.18
PFDA	2016–2017	Males	0.18
PFDA	2018–2019	Females	0.12
PFDA	2018–2019	Males	0.13
PFHxS	2007–2009	Females	1.6
PFHxS	2007–2009	Males	3.2
PFHxS	2009–2011	Females	1.3
PFHxS	2009–2011	Males	2.4
PFHxS	2016–2017	Females	0.62
PFHxS	2016–2017	Males	1.5
PFHxS	2018–2019	Females	0.55
PFHxS	2018–2019	Males	1.2
PFOS	2007–2009	Females	7.1
PFOS	2007–2009	Males	11
PFOS	2009–2011	Females	5.7
PFOS	2009–2011	Males	8.3
PFOS	2016–2017	Females	2.7
PFOS	2016–2017	Males	4.3
PFOS	2018–2019	Females	2.3
PFOS	2018–2019	Males	3.6

Concentrations of PFOA, PFHxS and PFOS were higher in males than in females in the Canadian population. Concentrations of PFNA and PFDA were similar between sexes.

Comparison of the general population and First Nations on-reserve population in Canada

This figure shows the geometric mean concentrations of PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFHxS and PFOS in blood plasma (µg/L) in the general population aged 20 to 79 from the CHMS (2009–2011) and in the First Nations on-reserve population aged 20 and older from the FNBI (2011).

Figure 4: Text description

PFAS	Biomonitoring initiative	Geometric mean
PFOA	CHMS	2.3
PFOA	FNBI	1.4
PFNA	CHMS	0.84
PFNA	FNBI	0.72
PFDA	CHMS	0.20
PFDA	FNBI	0.16
PFHxS	CHMS	1.7
PFHxS	FNBI	0.86
PFOS	CHMS	6.9
PFOS	FNBI	3.1

Concentrations of PFOA, PFHxS and PFOS were higher in the general population than in the First Nations on-reserve population in Canada. Concentrations of PFNA and PFDA were similar between the two populations.

Comparison of women of child-bearing age and pregnant women in Canada

This figure shows the geometric mean concentrations of PFOA, PFHxS and PFOS in blood plasma (µg/L) in women of child-bearing age (18 to 49) in the general population from the CHMS (2009–2011) and for women in the first trimester of pregnancy from the MIREC study (2008–2011).

Figure 5: Text description

PFAS	Biomonitoring initiative	Geometric mean
PFOA	CHMS	1.6
PFOA	MIREC study	1.7
PFHxS	CHMS	0.98
PFHxS	MIREC study	1.0
PFOS	CHMS	4.4
PFOS	MIREC study	4.6

Concentrations of PFOA, PFHxS and PFOS were similar between women of child-bearing age and women in the first trimester of pregnancy in cities across Canada.

Comparison of women of child-bearing age and pregnant women from Nunavik Inuit communities in Canada

This figure shows the geometric mean concentrations of PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFHxS and PFOS in women of child-bearing age (18 to 40) in the general population from the CHMS (2016–2017) and in pregnant women (age 16 to 40) from 14 Inuit communities in Nunavik from the NQN project (2016–2017). PFAS were measured in blood plasma (µg/L) in the CHMS and in blood serum (µg/L) in the NQN project.

Figure 6: Text description

PFAS	Biomonitoring initiative	Geometric mean
PFOA	CHMS	0.84
PFOA	NQN	0.54
PFNA	CHMS	0.38
PFNA	NQN	2.3
PFDA	CHMS	0.16
PFDA	NQN	0.51
PFHxS	CHMS	0.44
PFHxS	NQN	0.27
PFOS	CHMS	1.8
PFOS	NQN	3.3

Concentrations of PFOA and PFHxS were higher in women of child-bearing age in the general Canadian population. Concentrations of PFNA, PFDA and PFOS were higher in pregnant women from Inuit communities in Nunavik.

Comparison of the Canadian and U.S. populations

This figure shows the geometric mean concentrations of PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFHxS and PFOS in the Canadian population from the CHMS (2007–2019) and in the U.S. population from the NHANES (2007–2016). PFAS were measured in blood plasma (µg/L) in the CHMS and in blood serum (µg/L) in NHANES. Note that there are slight differences between the surveys in sampling (such as the age ranges of participants) and analysis (such as the limits of detection).

Figure 7: Text description

PFAS	Biomonitoring initiative	Collection period	Geometric mean
PFOA	CHMS	2007–2009	2.5
PFOA	CHMS	2009–2011	2.3
PFOA	CHMS	2016–2017	1.3
PFOA	CHMS	2018–2019	1.2
PFOA	NHANES	2007–2008	4.2
PFOA	NHANES	2009–2010	3.1
PFOA	NHANES	2011–2012	2.1
PFOA	NHANES	2013–2014	2.0
PFOA	NHANES	2015–2016	1.6
PFNA	CHMS	2009–2011	0.82
PFNA	CHMS	2016–2017	0.51
PFNA	CHMS	2018–2019	0.44
PFNA	NHANES	2009–2010	1.3
PFNA	NHANES	2011–2012	0.88
PFNA	NHANES	2013–2014	0.68
PFNA	NHANES	2015–2016	0.58
PFDA	CHMS	2009–2011	0.20
PFDA	CHMS	2016–2017	0.18
PFDA	CHMS	2018–2019	0.13
PFDA	NHANES	2009–2010	0.28
PFDA	NHANES	2011–2012	0.20
PFDA	NHANES	2013–2014	0.19
PFDA	NHANES	2015–2016	0.15
PFHxS	CHMS	2007–2009	2.3
PFHxS	CHMS	2009–2011	1.8
PFHxS	CHMS	2016–2017	0.96
PFHxS	CHMS	2018–2019	0.81
PFHxS	NHANES	2007–2008	1.9
PFHxS	NHANES	2009–2010	1.6
PFHxS	NHANES	2011–2012	1.3
PFHxS	NHANES	2013–2014	1.4
PFHxS	NHANES	2015–2016	1.2
PFOS	CHMS	2007–2009	8.8
PFOS	CHMS	2009–2011	6.9
PFOS	CHMS	2016–2017	3.4
PFOS	CHMS	2018–2019	2.9
PFOS	NHANES	2007–2008	14
PFOS	NHANES	2009–2010	9.7
PFOS	NHANES	2011–2012	6.7
PFOS	NHANES	2013–2014	5.2
PFOS	NHANES	2015–2016	5.0

Concentrations of PFAS were similar between the Canadian and U.S. populations.

Suggested citation

Health Canada. 2023. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Canadians. Ottawa, ON. Available: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/reports-publications/environmental-contaminants/human-biomonitoring-resources/per-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-canadians.html

Additional information

• Assembly of First Nations. 2013. First Nations Biomonitoring Initiative: National Results (2011). Ottawa, ON, Canada.
• Caron-Beaudoin É, Ayotte P, Blanchette C, Muckle G, Avard E, Ricard S, Lemire M. 2020. Perfluoroalkyl acids in pregnant women from Nunavik (Quebec, Canada): Trends in exposure and associations with country foods consumption. Environment International, 145: 106169.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2021. National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals. Atlanta, GA, USA.
• Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2023. Supporting document: Ecological state of the science report on SC-PFCAs, SC-PFSAs, and LC-PFSAs. Ottawa, ON, Canada.
• Fisher M, Arbuckle TE, Liang CL, LeBlanc A, Gaudreau E, Foster WG, Haines D, Davis K, Fraser WD. 2016. Concentrations of persistent organic pollutants in maternal and cord blood from the Maternal–infant research on environmental chemicals (MIREC) cohort study. Environmental Health, 15: 29.
• Health Canada. 2010. Report on Human Biomonitoring of Environmental Chemicals in Canada: Results of the Canadian Health Measures Survey Cycle 1 (2007–2009). Ottawa, ON, Canada.
• Health Canada. 2013. Second Report on Human Biomonitoring of Environmental Chemicals in Canada: Results of the Canadian Health Measures Survey Cycle 2 (2009–2011). Ottawa, ON, Canada.
• Health Canada. 2019. Fifth Report on Human Biomonitoring of Environmental Chemicals in Canada: Results of the Canadian Health Measures Survey Cycle 5 (2016–2017). Ottawa, ON, Canada.
• Health Canada. 2021. Sixth Report on Human Biomonitoring of Environmental Chemicals in Canada: Results of the Canadian Health Measures Survey Cycle 6 (2018–2019). Ottawa, ON, Canada.
• Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2023. Draft State of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Report. Ottawa, ON, Canada.
• Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2023. Risk Management Scope for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). Ottawa, ON, Canada.