HCF 2016: Ian Cousins
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Transcript of HCF 2016: Ian Cousins
Hazard assessment of fluorinated alternatives to long-chain PFASs
Ian Cousins, ACES - Department of Environmental
Science and Analytical Chemistry
Helsinki Chemicals Forum
Helsinki, Finland, 26th May 2016
Background
2
• Swedish Chemicals Agency (KEMI) identified >3000 PFASs (June 2015)
• Increasing trend in patents and new PFASs
• <2% registered under REACH
• >50% PFASs have unknown uses, little information on quantity of use
Industry phase-outs and replacements
Products (low molecular weight and polymers) containing long-chain perfluoroalkyl moieties
Mainly replaced with alternative products containing or degrading to form
Short-chain PFAS moieties Perfluoro(poly)ether moieties
CF2 CF2OPFCA < 7 perfluorinated carbonsPFSA < 6 perfluorinated carbons
PFCAs (≥ 7 perfluorinated carbons)
PFSAs (≥ 6 perfluorinated carbons)
8:2 FTOH
3
Some fluorinated alternatives
Are these fluorinated alternatives less hazardous and more sustainable substances than those that they replace?
O
F FF
F
F O
F F
F F F
F F
O
OH
O
F F
F FF
F
F
O
OH
F
FFF
O O
O
OH
FFF
FFF
FF
FF F
F
O
FF
Cl
F F
F F
OO
F F
F F F FF
Cl
F O
O
OH
F FF
FFF
FFF
FF F
OO
F F F F
F FF
F
F
O
OH
FFPer
fluor
oeth
er c
arbo
xylic
aci
ds (P
FEC
A) OH
F FF
F
F
F F
F FF
F
F
F FF F
OH
F FO
F F
F F
F F
F F
F F F F
ClF
F SO
OOH
F F
O
F F
F F
F F
F F
F F F F
FF
F SO
OOH
F F
RM610
RM620
8:2 FTOH replacements PFOS replacementsPFOA replacements & other uses
F-53
F-53B
Adona
GenX
Unknown
Unknown
EEA
Sho
rter c
hain
Per
fluor
oeth
er s
ulfo
nic
acid
s (P
FES
As)
4Wang et al., (2013) Environ. Int., 60, 242-248.Wang et al., (2015) Environ. Int., 75, 172-179.
Hazard assessment: fluorinated alternatives
5
Short-chain PFAAs Known PFECAs and PFESAs
P
LRT
B
T
vP vP
High LRT High LRT
Low B*
*B decreases with perfluoroalkyl chain length
B is not relevant for vP chemicals
• vPvB criteria aim to protect against poorly reversible exposures
• But contaminant levels in organisms poorly reversible if:1. slow elimination (related to B), or2. external exposure poorly reversible (related to vP, but not B)
• Drinking water aquifers contaminated with short-chain PFAAs – Groundwater highly contaminated for decades to centuries– German Environment Agency (UBA) suggest Persistence,
Mobility, Toxicity criteria
6Cousins et al., (2016) Environ. Int., in press.
Planetary boundary threats
7
PFASs are potential planetary boundary threats for chemical pollution:1. Unknown effects2. Planetary pollution potential3. Pollution poorly reversible
Rockström et al. Nature, 2009, 461, 472-475. Persson et at., ES&T, 2013, 47, 12619-12622.MacLeod et al. ES&T, 2014, 48, 11057-11063. Steffen et al., Science, 2015, 347, 6223.
Conclusions
8
• Lack of data for many PFASs so risks unknown
• All PFASs are “ultimately” highly persistent and many are mobile.˗ Expect global poorly reversible contamination
˗ Not sustainable
• Global risk reduction not possible if contamination is not reversible.
• Society may want to be precautionary and substitute non-essential uses of PFASs.
The Helsingör and Madrid Statements
9
Contains the authors’ views on the on-going transition to fluorinated alternatives