-Sources-
PFOA is often used as a processing aid such as Teflon, and even daily items of various greaseproof paper bags like pizza boxes & microwave popcorn bags, have been found to contain PFOA.
PFOS is used in surface treatment. Because of its oil- & water-proof properties, it is widely used in textiles, carpets, shoe materials and other manufacturing fields. It is the photolithography part of the semiconductor process in the semiconductor industry and also used as a decontamination solvent for metals.
-Risks-
PFOA/PFOS can remain in the human body for up to four years and will cause tumors, toxicity and possibly causing problems in the human respiratory system. The UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) also officially announced in December 2007 that PFOA/PFOS is one of the persistent organic pollutants, which must be restricted.
PFOA/PFOS compounds bind to proteins in the blood and is reabosrbed by the human kidney. One of the largest epidemiological study on the health effects associated with these compounds found “probable links” to thyroid disease, high cholesterol, pregnancy-induced hypertension, and testicular cancer.