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More environmentally friendly alternatives to PFOS-compounds and PFOA

Contents

Preface

Summary and conclusions

• Background and purpose
• Project results
  • Summary of the use of PFOS-related substances and alternatives
  • Summary of the use of PFOA-related substances today
  • Most important use area from an environmental perspective
  • Health and environmental exposure and effects of polyfluorinated substances
  • Environmental exposure and effects of non-fluorinated alternatives
  • Health effects of non-fluorinated alternatives
• Main conclusions

Sammenfatning og konklusioner

• Baggrund og formål
• Projektresultater
  • Sammenfatning af anvendelsen af PFOS og beslægtede stoffer samt alternativer
  • Sammenfatning af anvendelsen af PFOA-relaterede stoffer i dag
  • De vigtigste anvendelsesområder for PFOS og beslægtede stoffer set fra et miljømæssigt synspunkt
  • Miljø- og sundhedsaspekter af polyfluorerede stoffer
  • Miljøaspekter for de ikke-fluorholdige alternativer
  • Sundhedseffekter af de ikke-fluorholdige alternativer
• Hovedkonklusioner

1 Terminology and definitions

2 Introduction

• 2.1 The purpose of the project
• 2.2 History
• 2.3 The PFOS/PFOA problem
• 2.4 Method used

3 Chemistry

• 3.1 Manufacturing of PFOA, PFOS, PFOS-related compounds and telomers
• 3.2 Producers of PFOS-compounds and PFOA

4 Use of PFOS-related compounds, PFOA, and their alternatives

• 4.1 Use of PFOA and PFOA-related compounds
• 4.2 Use of PFOS and PFOS-related compounds
  • 4.2.1 Impregnation of textiles, leather and carpets
  • 4.2.2 Impregnation of paper and cardboard
  • 4.2.3 Cleaning agents, waxes and floor polishes - industrial and consumer products
  • 4.2.4 Paint and varnish
  • 4.2.5 Pesticides and insecticides
  • 4.2.6 Fire-fighting foams
  • 4.2.7 Photographic industry
  • 4.2.8 Manufacturing of semiconductors
  • 4.2.9 Hydraulic oils within the airplane industry
  • 4.2.10 Metal surface treatment
  • 4.2.11 Plumbing - fluxing agents
  • 4.2.12 Other uses

5 Technical assessment of alternatives

• 5.1 General information on surfactants for coatings
• 5.2 Conventional fluorinated surfactants
• 5.3 The "new generation" of fluorinated surfactants
• 5.4 Non-fluorinated surfactants
  • 5.4.1 Silicone polyethers
  • 5.4.2 Sulfosuccinate
  • 5.4.3 Aliphatic alcohols
  • 5.4.4 Propylated aromatics
• 5.5 Discussion of alternatives
  • 5.5.1 Paint and coatings
  • 5.5.2 Floor polish, waxes and cleaning agents
  • 5.5.3 Impregnation of textiles, leather, and carpets.
  • 5.5.4 Fire-fighting foam
  • 5.5.5 General comment
• 5.6 Economical assessment of alternatives

6 Environment and health assessment of PFOS and PFOA and other PFAS substances

• 6.1 Environmental fate
  • 6.1.1 Physical-chemical properties
  • 6.1.2 Abiotic degradation
  • 6.1.3 Biodegradation
  • 6.1.4 Sorption
• 6.2 Environmental exposure and occurrence
  • 6.2.1 Environmental release
  • 6.2.2 Long-range transportation
  • 6.2.3 Levels in air
  • 6.2.4 Levels in ground- and drinking water
  • 6.2.5 Levels in surface water
  • 6.2.6 Levels in sediment and sludge
  • 6.2.7 Levels in biota and wildlife
  • 6.2.8 Levels in terrestrial animals
• 6.3 Human exposure
• 6.4 Levels in humans
• 6.5 Animal toxicity
  • 6.5.1 Toxicokinetics and metabolism
  • 6.5.2 Animal toxicity
  • 6.5.3 Mutagenicity
  • 6.5.4 Cancer
  • 6.5.5 Impacts on reproduction and development
  • 6.5.6 Endocrine disruption
• 6.6 Human toxicity
• 6.7 Ecotoxicity
  • 6.7.1 Terrestrial organisms
  • 6.7.2 Aquatic organisms
• 6.8 Summary of the environmental and health effects of PFOS and PFOA and other polyfluoroalkyl substances
  • 6.8.1 Environmental chemistry
  • 6.8.2 Environmental release
  • 6.8.3 Environmental exposure
  • 6.8.4 Air levels
  • 6.8.5 Levels in surface waters
  • 6.8.6 Levels in sediment and sewage sludge
  • 6.8.7 Levels in biota
  • 6.8.8 Levels in fish
  • 6.8.9 Levels in birds
  • 6.8.10 Levels in mammals
  • 6.8.11 Human exposure
  • 6.8.12 Human levels
  • 6.8.13 Animal toxicity
  • 6.8.14 Human toxicity
  • 6.8.15 Ecotoxicity

7 Environment and health assessment of alternatives to PFOS/PFOA related compounds

• • 7.1.1 Fluorinated polyether
  • 7.1.2 Fatty alcohol polyglycolether sulfate
  • 7.1.3 Silicone polymers
  • 7.1.4 Sulfosuccinate
  • 7.1.5 Propylated aromatics

8 Discussion and conclusions

• 8.1 Discussion of the different use areas for PFOS-related compounds
• 8.2 Discussion of the use of PFOA and salts
• 8.3 Release to the Environment
• 8.4 Health and environmental aspects of PFOS, PFOA and other polyfluorinated substances
• 8.5 Health and environmental aspects of the identified non-polyfluorinated alternatives
  • 8.5.1 Environmental effects
  • 8.5.2 Health effects
• 8.6 Conclusions

9 References

Appendix A – Fluorine-containing substances – Terminology and definitions

• Fluorochemical
• Fluorinated chemical
• Fluorotelomer
• Fluorotelomer alcohol (FTOH)
• Fluoropolymer
• Fluorinated (organic) polymer
• Perfluoro- / perfluorinated
• Perfluoroalkylated substance (PFAS)
• Fluorosurfactant
• Perfluorocarboxylic acid (PFCA)
• Polyfluorinated substances

Appendix B – Method used in search for alternatives

• Search on the Internet
• Participation in a conference in Prague
• Participation in a conference in Helsingør (Elsinore)
• Participation in a conference in Berlin
• Contact to producers for information about alternatives
• Use of personal international contacts
• Use of confidential information from the Danish Product Register

Appendix C – Use of PFOS-related compounds in Denmark

Appendix D – Use of PFOA ammonium salt in Denmark

• 9.1 Information from a surface treatment company in Denmark
• 9.2 Information from Teleinstrument A/S

Appendix E – Use of telomer alcohols in Denmark

Appendix F – Identified alternatives

• PFBS - Perfluorobutanesulfonate
• C6-fluorinated compound
• Fluorotelomer-based products
• Fluorinated polyether
• Propylated aromatics
• Aliphatic alcohols
• Sulfosuccinate
  • Information from Münzing Chemie
  • Information from Cognis
  • Information from BASF
• Silicone polymers

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Version 1.0 June 2005, © Danish Environmental Protection Agency