The levels of PFOA and PFOS in people are declining. Reduced exposure to these materials is evidenced in a series of studies that have occurred over the past 15 years involving the measurement of these compounds in the blood of the U.S. general population.

Two different studies have collected and published data in this area: the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and a survey of American Red Cross adult blood donors.

As the chart indicates, there is a significant downward trend in the levels of PFOS and PFOA in the U.S. general population since 2000. Based on the NHANES and the American Red Cross data, mean blood levels of PFOS have declined approximately 84 percent and mean blood levels of PFOA have declined about 70 percent. Similar reductions have been observed in more localized areas where remediation activities have occurred.

For example, in January 2016, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced the results of a biomonitoring study known as the East Metro PFC3 Biomonitoring Project. “East Metro” is a reference to certain communities in the eastern Twin Cities area that were evaluated after actions had been taken to reduce the levels of PFOA and PFOS in drinking water supplies. The study found that, since 2008, the levels of PFOS and PFOA in the bloodstream of participating East Metro residents declined by 45 and 59 percent, respectively. An MDH news release observed that “levels of PFCs in the blood of long-time East Metro residents continue to go down after steps taken in 2006 reduced PFCs in their drinking water...”

Still another example of leadership and progress is represented by U.S. EPA’s 2010/2015 PFOA Stewardship Program. Under this initiative in 2006, the EPA invited the eight major fluoropolymer and telomer manufacturers to join in a global stewardship program with two goals: 1) to commit to achieve, no later than 2010, a 95 percent reduction, measured from a year 2000 baseline, in facility emissions to all media of PFOA, precursor chemicals that can break down to PFOA, and related higher homologue chemicals, and product content of these chemicals, and 2) to commit to working toward the elimination of these chemicals from emissions and products by 2015.

3M set the pace in meeting these goals and others in the group have also reported demonstrable progress.