HealthSeptember 1, 2026
perfluorooctanoic
pur-floor-oh-OK-tah-no-ik
Definition
A specific synthetic chemical compound used in industrial manufacturing, often referred to as PFOA, which is identified as a hazardous substance.
Etymology
The word is a chemical nomenclature construction derived from 'per-' (meaning completely or through), 'fluoro-' (referring to the element fluorine), and 'octanoic' (referring to the eight-carbon chain acid).
In the news
The article uses perfluorooctanoic acid as a classic example of a dangerous chemical that was replaced by a similar, equally harmful substitute, demonstrating the danger of 'regrettable substitutions.'
Food packaging chemicals of concern need group-based scrutiny, scientists urge
Read the full article ↗Packaging Insights