Baby Safety / Compounds / N-MeFOSAA (N-methyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid)

Is N-MeFOSAA (N-methyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid) safe for babies and kids?

Very high risk for kids

Infants accumulate N-MeFOSAA (N-methyl 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-mefosaa (n-methyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid)?

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

Also known as: 2355-31-9, NMeFOSAA, 2-(N-Methylperfluorooctanesulfonamido)acetic acid, N-MeFOSAA.

IUPAC name
2-[1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptadecafluorooctylsulfonyl(methyl)amino]acetic acid
CAS number
2355-31-9
Molecular formula
C11H6F17NO4S
Molecular weight
571.21 g/mol
SMILES
CN(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
22286931

Risk for babies

Very high risk

Infants accumulate N-MeFOSAA (N-methyl 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-MeFOSAA (N-methyl 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-MeFOSAA (N-methyl 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-mefosaa (n-methyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid)

  • Human Biomonitoring — NHANES blood samples, General population serum
    One of 7 PFAS routinely detected in >95% of NHANES participants
  • Food Packaging — Historical 3M grease-proofing treatments, Legacy food-contact paper coatings
    Metabolite of N-MeFOSE-based paper treatments

Safer alternatives

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

  • Non-fluorinated food packaging (wax, clay, silicone coatings)
    Trade-offs: Functional performance and cost-effectiveness may vary by application.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is n-mefosaa (n-methyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid) safe for kids?

Infants accumulate N-MeFOSAA (N-methyl 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-mefosaa (n-methyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid)?

N-MeFOSAA (N-methyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid) appears in: NHANES blood samples (human biomonitoring); General population serum (human biomonitoring); Historical 3M grease-proofing treatments (food packaging); Legacy food-contact paper coatings (food packaging).

What should I do if my child is exposed to n-mefosaa (n-methyl 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-MeFOSAA (N-methyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid) in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

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 →