Meyron

Reference summary — not medical advice or a personal risk estimate.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)

Group 1 — carcinogenic to humansFood & DrinkchemicalEvidence: limited_in_humans

Quick answer

Classified as Group 1 — carcinogenic to humans, based on limited evidence in humans, alongside stronger evidence in animals. Drunk and eaten. Drinking water contaminated near PFAS manufacturing or use sites, plus low-level dietary exposure. PFOA persists in the body and the environment.

Summary

A persistent industrial chemical found in non-stick coatings and contaminated water supplies.

Detail

PFOA was reclassified by IARC as Group 1 in 2023. The human evidence is limited (kidney cancer and testicular cancer), and the classification also rests on strong mechanistic evidence. PFOA is one of a broader family of PFAS chemicals; contamination of drinking water near manufacturing sites has been documented.

What's not established

This classification is based on limited evidence in humans together with strong mechanistic evidence. It does not establish a safe exposure threshold, your personal risk, or how this factor's risk compares in size to other Group 1 agents — hazard classifications are not ranked by magnitude.

Regional relevance

global

global

Documented in these products

Drinking water (contaminated)Microwave popcornNon-stick cookware

Presence in a product category doesn't imply the product causes cancer. Click each to see the source and context.

Evidence sources

Every claim on this page traces back to one of these. Click through to read the primary document yourself.

Primary sources

IARC

IARC Monographs — Classifications by Cancer Site, Vols 1–140

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Supporting sources

ACS

ACS — Known and Probable Human Carcinogens

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EPA

US EPA — Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) carcinogen assessments

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NTP

NTP — Report on Carcinogens (US National Toxicology Program)

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Last reviewed: October 2026

Official reference list

A government list some readers use alongside the primary evidence. Meyron is not affiliated with it. A chemical being listed does not by itself describe a risk from any particular product.