Baby Safety / Compounds / N-EtFOSAA (N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid)

Is N-EtFOSAA (N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid) safe for babies and kids?

Very high risk for kids

Infants accumulate N-EtFOSAA (N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid) through breast milk (bioconcentration), placental transfer, and dust ingestion. Persistent pollutants concentrate in fatty tissues with extended half-lives in developing organisms.

What is n-etfosaa (n-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid)?

The IUPAC name is 2-[ethyl(1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptadecafluorooctylsulfonyl)amino]acetic acid.

Also known as: 2991-50-6, N-ETHYL-N-[(HEPTADECAFLUOROOCTYL)SULPHONYL]GLYCINE, 2-(N-Ethylperfluorooctanesulfonamido)acetic acid, EINECS 221-061-1.

IUPAC name
2-[ethyl(1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptadecafluorooctylsulfonyl)amino]acetic acid
CAS number
2991-50-6
Molecular formula
C12H8F17NO4S
Molecular weight
585.24 g/mol
SMILES
CCN(CC(=O)O)S(=O)(=O)C(C(C(C(C(C(C(C(F)(F)F)(F)F)(F)F)(F)F)(F)F)(F)F)(F)F)(F)F
PubChem CID
18134

Risk for babies

Very high risk

Infants accumulate N-EtFOSAA (N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid) through breast milk (bioconcentration), placental transfer, and dust ingestion. Persistent pollutants concentrate in fatty tissues with extended half-lives in developing organisms.

Neonates and infants up to 12 months have incomplete blood-brain barrier development, immature Phase I/II metabolic enzymes (particularly CYP3A4, UGT1A1), and higher gastrointestinal permeability. Equivalent doses produce higher internal concentrations and longer residence times.

What to do: Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

High risk

N-EtFOSAA (N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid) persists in maternal adipose tissue and is mobilized during pregnancy and lactation. Lipophilic pollutants concentrate in breast milk and cross the placenta during critical developmental windows.

Suspected reproductive toxicant (GHS H361) or suspected endocrine disruptor. Precautionary approach warranted. Animal studies or limited human data suggest developmental toxicity potential.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified N-EtFOSAA (N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid). The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EPA——
CDC/ATSDR——

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where kids encounter n-etfosaa (n-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid)

  • Human Biomonitoring — NHANES blood samples, Occupational exposure studies in fluorochemical workers
    Detected in general US population, higher in fluorochemical workers
  • Consumer Products — Historical Scotchgard fabric protector, Stain-resistant treatments
    Metabolite of N-EtFOSE used in 3M consumer products pre-2002

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to N-EtFOSAA (N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid):

  • Non-fluorinated fabric protectors (silicone-based, plant-based)
    Trade-offs: Functional performance and cost-effectiveness may vary by application.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is n-etfosaa (n-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid) safe for kids?

Infants accumulate N-EtFOSAA (N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid) through breast milk (bioconcentration), placental transfer, and dust ingestion. Persistent pollutants concentrate in fatty tissues with extended half-lives in developing organisms.

What products contain n-etfosaa (n-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid)?

N-EtFOSAA (N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid) appears in: NHANES blood samples (human biomonitoring); Occupational exposure studies in fluorochemical workers (human biomonitoring); Historical Scotchgard fabric protector (consumer products); Stain-resistant treatments (consumer products).

What should I do if my child is exposed to n-etfosaa (n-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid)?

Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

See N-EtFOSAA (N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid) in the baby app

Look up products containing n-etfosaa (n-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

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Sources (1)
  1. — expert_curation

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →