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Archived page. This is a page 3M published at pfasfacts.com, kept as a historical record. It is not current guidance. Back to the Archive · What has changed since

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Archived page. This is 3M’s page at pfasfacts.com/what-agencies-say/, restored word for word from the Internet Archive capture of 23 February 2019. The statements on it are 3M’s, made at that time. They are not current scientific or regulatory guidance. What has changed since · View the capture · About this archive

What Agencies Say


The International Agency for Research on Cancer (part of the World Health Organization) views PFOA as less carcinogenic than alcoholic beverages, red meat, and even very hot drinks. “There are no specific levels of PFASs in human blood that have been associated with adverse health effects.”

Minnesota Department of Health

Archive note, added in 2026: when this was written, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified PFOA as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). In December 2023 IARC classified PFOA as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1). What has changed since.

“Simply finding a chemical in people’s bodies does not mean the chemical will harm health.”

Minnesota Department of Health

“Finding a measurable amount of PFASs in serum does not imply that the levels of PFASs cause an adverse health effect.”

US Centers for Disease Control

“Drinking water with PFOA and PFOS, even at the levels above the updated values, does not represent an immediate health risk. These values are designed to reduce long-term health risks across the population and are based on multiple safety factors to protect the most vulnerable citizens, which makes them overprotective for most of the residents in our state.”

Minnesota Department of Health, 2017

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