[10] Fluorosurfactants reduce the surface tension of water down to half of what hydrocarbon surfactants can by concentrating at the liquid-air interface due to the lipophobicity of fluorocarbons.

[10][11] PFNA is very stable and is not known to degrade in the environment by oxidative processes because of the strength of the carbon–fluorine bond and the electronegativity of fluorine.

[12] However, longer chain perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) are considered more bioaccumulative and toxic.

[14] and has also been found in human follicular fluid [15] In a cross-sectional study of 2003–2004 US samples, a higher (13.9 milligram per deciliter) total cholesterol level was observed in when the highest quartile was compared to the lowest.

[20] In the United States there are no federal drinking water standards for any of the perfluorinated alkylated substances as of late 2020.

The agency's health advisory level for the combined concentrations of PFOA and PFOS is 70 parts per trillion (ppt).

Public water systems in New Jersey are required to meet a maximum contaminant level (MCL) standard of 14 ppt.