Hazard assessment of fluorinated alternatives to long-chain perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and their precursors: status quo, ongoing challenges and possible solutions
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In: Environmental international, Vol. 75, 01.02.2015, p. 172-179.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Hazard assessment of fluorinated alternatives to long-chain perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and their precursors
T2 - status quo, ongoing challenges and possible solutions
AU - Wang, Zhanyun
AU - Cousins, Ian T
AU - Scheringer, Martin
AU - Hungerbuehler, Konrad
N1 - Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
PY - 2015/2/1
Y1 - 2015/2/1
N2 - Because of concerns over the impact of long-chain perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) on humans and the environment, PFAAs and their precursors are being substituted by alternative substances including fluorinated alternatives that are structurally similar to the substances they replace. Using publicly accessible information, we aimed to identify the status quo of the hazard assessment of identified fluorinated alternatives, to analyze possible systemic shortcomings of the current industrial transition to alternative substances, and to outline possible solutions. Fluorinated alternatives, particularly short-chain PFAAs and perfluoroether carboxylic and sulfonic acids (PFECAs and PFESAs), possess high environmental stability and mobility implying that they have a high global contamination potential. In addition to their potential for causing global exposures, certain fluorinated alternatives have been identified as toxic and are thus likely to pose global risks to humans and the environment. Various factors, particularly the information asymmetry between industry and other stakeholders, have contributed to the current lack of knowledge about the risks posed by fluorinated alternatives. Available cases show that a non-fluorinated substitution strategy (employing either chemical or functionality substitutions) can be a possible long-term, sustainable solution and needs to be further developed and assessed.
AB - Because of concerns over the impact of long-chain perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) on humans and the environment, PFAAs and their precursors are being substituted by alternative substances including fluorinated alternatives that are structurally similar to the substances they replace. Using publicly accessible information, we aimed to identify the status quo of the hazard assessment of identified fluorinated alternatives, to analyze possible systemic shortcomings of the current industrial transition to alternative substances, and to outline possible solutions. Fluorinated alternatives, particularly short-chain PFAAs and perfluoroether carboxylic and sulfonic acids (PFECAs and PFESAs), possess high environmental stability and mobility implying that they have a high global contamination potential. In addition to their potential for causing global exposures, certain fluorinated alternatives have been identified as toxic and are thus likely to pose global risks to humans and the environment. Various factors, particularly the information asymmetry between industry and other stakeholders, have contributed to the current lack of knowledge about the risks posed by fluorinated alternatives. Available cases show that a non-fluorinated substitution strategy (employing either chemical or functionality substitutions) can be a possible long-term, sustainable solution and needs to be further developed and assessed.
KW - Chemistry
KW - Nachhaltige Chemie
KW - Short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids
KW - Perfluoroether carboxylic acids
KW - Perfluoroether sulfonic acids
KW - PBT assessment
KW - Data gaps
KW - Global contamination
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84911884618&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.envint.2014.11.013
DO - 10.1016/j.envint.2014.11.013
M3 - Journal articles
C2 - 25461427
AN - SCOPUS:84911884618
VL - 75
SP - 172
EP - 179
JO - Environmental international
JF - Environmental international
SN - 0160-4120
ER -