IARC Monograph 135 | Carcinogenicity of PFOA and PFOS

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has released the findings of its evaluation on the carcinogenicity of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) in Volume 135 of the IARC Monographs.

Published in The Lancet Oncology, the summary article reveals that PFOA is classified as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1), based on sufficient evidence from animal studies and strong mechanistic evidence demonstrating key characteristics of carcinogens in exposed humans. Limited evidence in humans suggests an association with testis and renal cell carcinoma. PFOS is categorized as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B) due to strong mechanistic evidence, with limited evidence for cancer in animal studies and inadequate evidence for cancer in humans.

Both PFOA and PFOS, members of the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) group, are persistent environmental pollutants with widespread occurrence, primarily through industrial sources, and are subject to increasingly stringent restrictions worldwide.

The full scientific assessment is available in the Lancet Oncology publication dated November 30, 2023: "Carcinogenicity of perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid"

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