perfluorooctanoic acid

English

Etymology

From perfluoro- +‎ octanoic acid.

Noun

perfluorooctanoic acid (uncountable)

1. (chemistry) A synthetic, stable perfluorinated carboxylic acid and fluorosurfactant with industrial applications, a toxicant and carcinogen in animals, persistent in the environment and associated with infertility.

   Synonyms: PFOA, perfluorooctanoate

   Hypernym: persistent organic pollutant

   Coordinate term: PFOS

   • 2007, Mark J. Jackson, Waqar Ahmed, Surface Engineered Surgical Tools and Medical Devices, Springer Science & Business Media, →ISBN, page 296:

     Recent studies have linked fluoropolymers to increased incidences of cancer and teratogenesis for those exposed to a particular raw material, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), used in its production, yet claims are still very controversial.

   • 2013, Issues in Environmental Research and Application: 2012 Edition, ScholarlyEditions, →ISBN:

     “Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) have recently received attention owing to their widespread contamination in the environment. One of major manufacturers, 3M Company voluntarily phased out PFOS production in 2002,” scientists in Yoshida, Japan report.

Further reading

• perfluorooctanoic acid on Wikipedia.Wikipedia