Fluoropolymers: A Special Class of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) Essential for Our Daily Life

Recycling and the end of life assessment of fluoropolymers: recent developments, challenges and future trends

“…Thus, it should be considered as distinctly different from other classes of PFAS. 198 Although the dossier is still under evaluation, 202 the restriction of FPs under REACH regulations may hamper the EU strategic sustainability ambition. 203 Nevertheless, data showed that FPs (especially PTFE) have been extensively tested to satisfy US, Japanese 48 and EU food contact and global medical device regulations, e.g., US Food and Drug Administration, China Food and Drug Administration, Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Japan Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Agency, including ISO 10993 biocompatibility testing and preclinical animal testing, and also are exempted from REACH legislation.…”

“…These authors reviewed the link between some types of FPs and PFAS emissions but in the last 10-15 years, many efforts have been developed by at least five manufacturers of FPs by modifying their production, using non-fluorinated surfactants and reducing the gas and liquid emissions significantly. [192][193][194][195][196][197][198][199]…”

Emission inventory of PFASs and other fluorinated organic substances for the fluoropolymer production industry in Europe

“…It is currently unclear which of the two industry paths, namely (1) continued emission abatement of uorosurfactant processing aids (by Chemours) or (2) switching to uorosurfactant-free processing aids (Arkema and Solvay), is favourable in terms of overall reduction in environmental impacts. On the one hand, it is impossible to achieve zero emissions of uorosurfactant processing aids, 17 and on the other hand, the use of uorosurfactant-free processing aids appears to lead to the release of additional unwanted uorinated by-products. 79,80 It is further important to emphasize that air emissions of uorinated organic substances that are neither regulated by the Montreal Protocol nor used as uorosurfactant processing aids by the uoropolymer production industry remain relatively high (see Fig.…”

“…3,16 The uoropolymer production industry, and some downstream users of uoropolymers, on the other hand, are arguing for uoropolymers to be exempted from this restriction proposal on the basis of their inert properties and the functions they full in society. 17 Many modern uoropolymers are considered relatively inert due to their high molecular weight and stability and are believed to contain few leachable impurities. 18 However, during their production, lower-molecular-weight uorinated or other halogenated organic molecules are used or emitted.…”

“…While the uoropolymer production industry was a signicant historical source of these problematic uorosurfactant substances in the environment, 21 the use and emissions of PFAAs and PFECAs by the uoropolymer industry in Europe are better controlled today through the introduction of abatement measures, restrictions and regulations and innovations such as uorosurfactant-free polymerization. 12,17 Although these developments seem benecial for PFAS emissions, some uorosurfactant-free polymerization techniques make use of chain transfer agents to actually generate uorinated surfactants in situ and thereby potentially increase the formation of uorinated polymerization by-products. 12,22 Furthermore, uorosurfactants only represent a part of the PFAS uses and emissions by this industry (see Table S1 in ESI-2 † for an overview of uorosurfactants used by the uoropolymer production industry in Europe).…”