An overview of the uses of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)

Glüge, Juliane; Scheringer, Martin; Cousins, Ian T.; DeWitt, Jamie C.; Goldenman, Gretta; Herzke, Dorte; Lohmann, Rainer; Ng, Carla A.; Trier, Xenia; Wang, Zhanyun

doi:10.31224/osf.io/2eqac

Cited by 28 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 47 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…It may reduce the probability of the industry replacing 1 hazardous chemical with another unregulated, but just as hazardous, one. Lastly, more comprehensive reporting schemes, providing detailed information about trends and shifts in use (e.g., type of use, substance, quantity), will be vital support to future work of differentiating between essential and nonessential use and scrutinizing industry data through quality assurance systems within the PRs (Glüge et al 2020). Undoubtedly, when it comes to international chemical management and control, the Nordic countries will continue to play a key role within the EU and globally.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Management of PFAS with the aid of chemical product registries—an indispensable tool for future control of hazardous substances

Steindal

Grung

2021

Integr Envir Assess & Manag

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Nordic countries are in the forefront of international chemical regulation and management by actively developing the domestic policy framework, while simultaneously pushing for more stringent control internationally. Norway, Sweden, and Denmark have been particularly progressive in the regulation of the per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Restriction proposals have been developed under the EU Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) and PFAS have been nominated for global restriction under the Stockholm Convention. A key tool in their work has been the product registries (PRs), where all chemicals imported and produced over a certain reporting limit must be registered by the importers and/or producers. In recent years these PRs have been facing opposition, predominantly from the industry. Simultaneously, and in some contrast, several EU countries are mobilizing for measures to control PFAS as a group. We explored the role of PRs in national and international chemical management. By analyzing the Norwegian PFAS data (2009-2017) reported by industry to the government we observed changes in use and temporal trends. A diversification in use and substitutions to alternative PFAS emerged when new policies were developed, representing a challenge for future control and reduction efforts. Instead of loosening up on reporting obligations, as advocated by some industry representatives, our analysis of the PFAS group argues that governments would benefit from a tighter reporting scheme of problematic compound groups. A comprehensive overview of use, production, and import would contribute to more effective control, thereby saving society and the environment from serious damage and tremendous costs. The Nordic PRs will continue to be important supplements to REACH registration and an indispensable tool for future both national and international regulation on PFAS and other hazardous substances. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021;00:1-17.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Management of PFAS with the aid of chemical product registries—an indispensable tool for future control of hazardous substances

Steindal

Grung

2021

Integr Envir Assess & Manag

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…7 PFAS are a class of fluorinated synthetic organic substances with diverse properties that have been used in a wide variety of industrial and consumer applications. 8,9 The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)/United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) compiled a list of PFAS with over 4700 CAS numbers that may have been on the global market. 10 More recently, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) 11 has compiled a list of more than 7000 PFAS entries.…”

Section: Perspective Articlementioning

confidence: 99%

The High Persistence of PFAS is Sufficient for their Management as a Chemical Class

Cousins¹,

DeWitt²,

Lohmann³

et al. 2020

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of synthetic organic substances with diverse structures, properties, uses, bioaccumulation potentials and toxicities. Despite this high diversity, all PFAS are alike in that they contain perfluoroalkyl moieties that are extremely resistant to environmental and metabolic degradation. PFAS are therefore either non-degradable or transform ultimately into stable terminal transformation products (which are still PFAS). Under the European chemicals regulation this classifies all PFAS as very persistent substances (vP). We argue that this high persistence is sufficient concern for their management as a chemical class, and for all “non-essential” uses of PFAS to be phased out. The continual release of highly persistent PFAS will result in increasing concentrations and increasing probabilities of the occurrence of known and unknown effects. Once adverse effects are identified the exposure and associated effects will not be easily reversible. Reversing PFAS contamination will be technically challenging, energy intensive, and costly for society, as is evident in the efforts to remove PFAS from contaminated land and drinking water.

show abstract

“…Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is an environmental contaminant that is highly persistent in the environment and causes detrimental effects upon a range of receptors (Jian et al, 2018; Mommaert et al, 2011; Mudumbi et al, 2017; Stahl et al, 2011). PFOS has been used globally in thousands of consumer and industrial applications since the 1950s, including protective coatings on cooking pans and fire‐retardant products such as aqueous film‐forming foam extensively used from the 1970s to 2000s (Gluge et al, 2020). Widespread use and inappropriate disposal have resulted in PFOS‐contaminated soil, sediments, and water worldwide, and hundreds of contaminated sites show PFOS in various environmental compartments at concentrations exceeding current guidelines (AECOM, 2016; Chen et al, 2018; DAWE, 2016; Gilljam et al, 2016; Lin et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological and behavioral responses of European honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies to perfluorooctane sulfonate exposure

Sonter

Rader

Stevenson

et al. 2021

Integr Envir Assess & Manag

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Bees provide pollination services to managed and wild ecosystems but are threatened globally due to multiple stressors, including exposure to contaminants. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a widely detected and persistent contaminant that accumulates and biomagnifies in food chains. In this exposure effect study, small whole colonies of Apis mellifera (1000 bees) were exposed to PFOS using a purpose‐built cage system over a 4‐week period. The PFOS exposure concentrations were provided to bees in sugar syrup at concentrations detected in the environment, ranging from 0 to 1.6 mg L−1. A range of biological and behavioral responses were monitored. Bee tissue, honey, and fecal matter were analyzed using isotope dilution combined with liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry adapted for bee and honey matrix analysis. Bee mortality increased significantly with PFOS exposure at 0.8 mg L−1 or greater, and brood development ceased entirely at 0.02 mg L−1 or greater. Colony activity, temperament, hive maintenance, and defense were adversely affected in all PFOS exposure treatments compared with the control, even at the lowest PFOS exposure of 0.02 mg L−1. Perfluorooctane sulfonate was detected in bee tissue with a mean bioaccumulation factor of 0.3, and it was also identified in honey and in feces collected from the hive cages. These findings provide the first evidence that PFOS exposure adversely affects honey bee colonies and may transfer to honey. With PFOS contaminating thousands of sites worldwide, our study has implications for exposed bee populations under natural conditions, pollination services, the honey industry, and human health. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021;17:673–683. © 2021 SETAC

show abstract

An overview of the uses of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)

Cited by 28 publications

References 47 publications

Management of PFAS with the aid of chemical product registries—an indispensable tool for future control of hazardous substances

Management of PFAS with the aid of chemical product registries—an indispensable tool for future control of hazardous substances

The High Persistence of PFAS is Sufficient for their Management as a Chemical Class

Biological and behavioral responses of European honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies to perfluorooctane sulfonate exposure

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About