C6-Perfluorinated Compounds: The New Greaseproofing Agents in Food Packaging

Abstract

Due to their oleophobic and hydrophobic properties and stability, perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are used in many applications, particularly as greaseproofing agents for food contact. However, PFCs 8-carbons in length or greater (C8-PFCs) have raised concerns regarding environmental biopersistence, bioaccumulation in humans, and potent toxicity that have resulted in their gradual phase-out for food contact use. Industry has replaced C8-PFCs with shorter-chained C6-based greaseproofing agents, which are intended to have the same favorable physicochemical properties without the problematic toxicological effects in humans and wildlife. Compared with the large body of data available for C8 compounds, however, the available database on toxicity and exposure to the C6 compounds is fairly limited. This article summarizes the information in this database, focusing on aspects of human exposure and potential health risks associated with two types of C6 PFCs found in food packaging: perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and 6-2 fluorotelomer alcohol (C6-FTOH).

Greaseproof paper products: A review emphasizing ecofriendly approaches

“…When the health effects and high persistence of perfluorinated compounds became widely known, US manufacturers of those products came to an agreement with the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to stop production of a specific class of those compounds that had been identified as being the most resistant to biodegradation, the long-chain perfluorocarbons (Wang et al 2013;Rice 2015;Schaider et al 2017). Analogs having eight-carbon chains have been shown to accumulate in animal tissues (Kabadi et al 2018), so shorter chains are now used in the US.…”

“…Analogs having eight-carbon chains have been shown to accumulate in animal tissues (Kabadi et al 2018), so shorter chains are now used in the US. The six-carbon perfluorocarbon compounds do not appear to have the same biopersistence and potent toxicity as the longerchain versions (Rice 2015). However, the long-chain products, though not made in the US, continue to be made and used elsewhere in the world (Schaider et al 2017).…”

Directing Surface Functions by Inducing Ordered and Irregular Morphologies at Single and Two‐Tiered Length Scales

“…A solution of perfluoroheptanoic acid (Sigma Aldrich, DE) was used as a more environmental-friendly option compared with the longer chain 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctyl phosphoric acid commonly used for fabrication of SLIP surfaces. [27,28] The samples were submerged in a 1 wt% solution of perfluoroheptanoic acid in ethanol(95): water(5) solution at a temperature of 25 C for 24 h. The whole process was carried out in a closed space to prevent excessive evaporation. The samples' surfaces were successively infiltrated with a commercial Krytox perfluoropolyether (PFPE) GPL 100 lubricant (DuPont, USA).…”

Applying an Oleophobic/Hydrophobic Fluorinated Polymer Monolayer Coating from Aqueous Solutions

“…As a result, the use of long-chain fluorocarbons (C7 and above) has been banned by many environmental agencies, and industries are shifting toward the use of shorter-chained C6 fluorocarbons that are less prone to bioaccumulation. 26 Another major challenge for the fabrication of safer fluorocarbon-based coatings is their processing. Typically, the processing and application of fluorocarbon coatings require the use of highly corrosive, flammable, or toxic solvents.…”

“…As already stated, fluorocarbon-based materials, especially long perfluoroalkanes, are highly stable and can bioaccumulate. − Furthermore, upon their eventual breakdown, their degradation products, such as perfluorooctanoic acid , and perfluorooctanesulphonate have been shown to be toxic. As a result, the use of long-chain fluorocarbons (C7 and above) has been banned by many environmental agencies, and industries are shifting toward the use of shorter-chained C6 fluorocarbons that are less prone to bioaccumulation . Another major challenge for the fabrication of safer fluorocarbon-based coatings is their processing.…”