• PFC Contaminated sites in Minnesota
• Human Health Effects of PFCs
• Fish Consumption Advisory
• PFC Contamination Nationwide
• PFC sites in Washington County, MN (map)

"These chemicals don't behave like anything else on the planet."
–Mary Dominiak, PFC Coordinator, EPA

Over 40% of Minnesota waters that have been tested by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency are polluted. Many contaminants pollute Minnesota's waters: human and animal waste, algae from too much phosphorus and other pollutants. Now a new group of toxins have contaminated our water system, including our drinking water-perfluorochemicals or PFCs.

Three types of PFCs pollute the municipal water systems and private wells of eight communities, the Mississippi River and the Chain of Lakes:

• perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)
• perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
• perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA)

These chemicals are persistent, toxic and bio-accumulate in both human and animal tissue. PFCs were used and manufactured by 3M for decades, entering our water through 3M plant discharge, landfill/dump leakage and other unknown ways.

Minnesota is not the only state affected by PFCs-seven other states have widespread contamination.
In fact, PFCs are found throughout the world in the blood of mammals, birds, fish and humans. There are concerns about PFCs affects on human health.

PFOA was classified as a likely human carcinogen by the EPA Science Advisory Board and animal studies of PFOA found health effects at even the lowest blood levels. The median level of PFOA in the U.S. population is 5 parts per billion and it remains in the body for years.

This contamination didn't occur as the result of some accidental spill or explosion. These toxic chemicals were manufactured for decades, put into a wide variety of consumer products and disposed of in landfills and dumps.
Under federal law, chemical companies are not required to prove their chemicals are safe before putting them on the market. In fact, less than 10% of chemicals have been tested for human health effects. The PFC contamination is a sobering example of a flawed U.S. chemical policy.

Change in Other Countries

In June 2007, the European Union began implementation of a new chemical policy which requires chemical companies to prove chemicals are safe before being allowed in the marketplace and removes the most toxic chemicals when there are safer alternatives.

Learn More

• Factsheet: Protecting Our Water from PFC Contamination (198 kb, pdf)
• Testimony of Samuel Yamin, MCEA (33 kb, pdf)

Learn more about toxic chemicals and how to reduce your exposure, visit Healthy Legacy.

Other sites:

• Minnesota Public Radio Series: Toxic Traces
• Minnesota Department of Health: Hazardous Substances in Minnesota: Perfluorochemicals and Health
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency: Perfluorochemicals
• Environmental Working Group: PFCs: Global Contaminants: PFC Health Concerns
• C8 Health Project
• DuPont Accountability Coalition
• Ohio Department of Health: Health Assessment Section Fact Sheets