PFTA
Perfluorotetradecanoic acid
- EPA federal limit
- No federal limit
- Detected in
- 10,294 systems
- Regulatory status
- Unregulated (UCMR 5)
What is PFTA?
Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA) is a man-made chemical that belongs to the PFAS family, a group of thousands of synthetic chemicals often called "forever chemicals" because they break down very slowly in the environment and in the human body. PFTA is one of the longer-chain PFAS compounds, meaning it has a larger molecular structure than some of its more well-known cousins like PFOA or PFOS. Like all PFAS, it is known for being extremely resistant to heat, water, and oil.
Where does it come from?
PFTA is primarily released through industrial manufacturing processes and can show up in consumer products designed to resist grease, water, or stains. Possible sources include stain-resistant coatings on fabrics and carpets, some food packaging materials, and certain industrial chemicals used in manufacturing. It may also be present as a contaminant or breakdown product in facilities that produce or use other PFAS compounds.
Health concerns
Research on PFTA specifically is limited compared to more widely studied PFAS chemicals. Animal studies have associated PFTA with effects on the liver and hormonal systems, but strong human data is not yet available. Because of its similarity to other long-chain PFAS, researchers consider it a chemical worth watching closely. If you have personal health concerns, consult a healthcare provider.
EPA standard
The EPA has not established a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) — a legal limit for how much of a chemical is allowed in drinking water — for PFTA. Without a federal limit, public water systems are not required to test for or remove it. This means there is currently no regulatory safety threshold protecting consumers from this specific compound.
What you can do
If PFTA is detected in your water, the most effective treatment option is a reverse osmosis filter, which research studies show can remove long-chain PFAS compounds. Granular activated carbon filters may also offer some reduction. Importantly, boiling water does not remove PFAS — it can actually concentrate them.
About this summary: Narrative text on this page was drafted by an AI model (claude-sonnet-4-6) from EPA UCMR 5 data and reviewed before publication. The numeric data above is reported by water utilities directly to the EPA. If you spot an error, email data@checkyourwater.org.