PFOA
abbreviation or noun
plural PFOAs
: a fluorinated carboxylic acid C8HF15O that is a member of the PFAS group and that has been used especially for its water and stain resistance (as in carpeting and upholstery), as a surfactant (as in firefighting foam), as a coating for nonstick cookware, and as an emulsifier in the synthesis of fluorinated polymers : perfluorooctanoic acid
Used in thousands of products from cookware to kids' pajamas to takeout coffee cups, PFOA is a likely human carcinogen, according to a science panel commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency.—Leslie Savan
Some companies use PFOA to help their nonstick coatings spread evenly over the cookware during manufacturing.—David Schardt
… PFOA and some closely related chemicals (such as PFOS) are now no longer made in the US, although they are still made in some other countries …—American Cancer Society
called also perfluorooctanoate
Cite this Entry
“PFOA.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/PFOA. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
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