Reference summary — not medical advice or a personal risk estimate.
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
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, with sufficient evidence for kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma) and limited evidence for testicular cancer. PFOA is one of a broader family of PFAS chemicals; contamination of drinking water near manufacturing sites has been documented.
Regional relevance
global
Documented in these products
Presence in a product category doesn't imply the product causes cancer. Click each to see the source and context.
Sources
Consumer references
Third-party tools some readers use alongside primary evidence. Meyron doesn't endorse them; we link them because you'll otherwise hit them anyway.
- EWG Dirty Dozen (pesticide residues on produce)
Consumer ranking of produce items with the highest pesticide residues.
- California Prop 65 list
State of California's list of chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive harm.
- Yuka (packaged-food & cosmetics scanner)
Consumer app that rates packaged-food and cosmetic products.