PFAS Glossary of Terms
Following is a list of the four most-used terms (acronyms and full terms) included in the PFAS information, with a simple definition for each, in an outline to show the relationship of one to another.
| PFCs (PERFLUORINATED COMPOUNDS) |
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This is the most general, over-reaching term of the ones listed here. Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are a class of synthetic compounds containing thousands of chemicals formed from carbon chains with fluorine attached to these chains. |
| PFAS (PERFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES) |
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PFAS (perfluoroalkyl substances) is a category of manmade chemicals that contain a carbon and fluorine atom backbone. There are hundreds of known PFAS compounds. |
PFOS (Perfluorooctane Sulfonate)
PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic Acid)
These are the two best known PFC's/PFAS and the primary ones being addressed today by EPA, State Department of Health, water utilities and other state and national agencies.
