Perfluorinated or polyfluoroalkyl compound substances (PFAS) refers to the general term for a class of organic fluorine compounds containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom, including:
- perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
- perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)
- perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA)
- perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs)
- perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS)
- perfluorohexyl sulfonic acid and its salts (PFHxS)
- perfluorobutyl sulfonic acid (PFBS)
- perfluorooctane sulfonic acid Acid fluoride (PFOSF), and related substances, etc.
Because of its unique physical and chemical properties, it is widely used in the development of non-sticky, water- and oil-repellent materials. However, such fluorine-containing substances have potential persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. If their usage continues, not only will they continue to pollute the environment, but once they enter the human body, they will cause serious and irreversible harm to human health. Therefore, many countries and regions have introduced control measures for PFAS substances.
On October 18, 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a comprehensive strategic roadmap for tackling PFAS pollution.
The roadmap centers on three guiding strategies:
- Increase investment for PFA research
- Take necessary actions to restrict PFAS chemicals from entering the environment
- Accelerate the clean-up of PFAS pollution
In the future, EPA will take concrete actions to control PFAS substances. The release of this roadmap once again pushed PFAS to the forefront.
At present, many countries or regions around the world have imposed restrictions on PFAS, and the relevant control requirements are summarized as follows:
| COUNTRY / REGION |
RELATED NEWS |
| European Union |
- There are many PFAS substances in the Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) in REACH Regulation ((EC) No 1907/2006), including PFOA, PFNA and its sodium and ammonium salts, PFDA and its sodium and ammonium salts, PFBS And its salts and other substances
- In May 2020, Denmark banned PFAS in food contact paper and cardboard
- In June 2020, the European Union's POPs Regulation ((EU) 2019/1021) and its revised regulations (EU) 2020/784 have included PFOS and its derivatives, PFOA and its salts and PFOA-related substances in the list of prohibited substances in Appendix I
- In August 2021, the European Union issued Regulation (EU) 2021/1297, once again amending Annex XVII of the REACH Regulation, replacing Article 68 with C9-C14 PFCAs, and its restrictions and their salts and related substances
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| North America |
- In January 2020, San Francisco prohibits PFAS in single-use food serviceware
- In February 2021, TPCH officially restricted PFAS in packaging materials
- State of New York bans PFAS in food packaging from December 2022
- Colorado, Maine, Kentucky, Virginia, Washington, Minnesota, Connecticut and many other states have issued control requirements for PFAS
- In December 2021, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) will convene a meeting to discuss the potential list of PFOS and its salts and its precursors, PFNA and its salts, and PFDA and its salts
- California prohibits intentional addition of PFAS in juvenile products and plant-based food packaging, and defines intentional addition as:
- Use for functional or technical purposes;
- The content exceeds 100 ppm (based on total organic fluorine)
- Canada's "Prohibition of Specific Hazardous Substances Regulations" (SOR/2012-285, and its amendment regulations SOR/2016-252) prohibit the use of PFOA, its salts and precursors, long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids, their salts and precursors (LC-PFCAs), PFOS, its salts and precursors
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| China |
- On March 11, 2019, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China issued the "Announcement on Prohibiting the Production, Circulation, Use, Import and Export of Lindane and Other Persistent Organic Pollutants"
- From March 26, 2019, PFOS and its salts and PFOSF are prohibited from production, distribution, use, import and export except for acceptable uses.
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| Japan |
In April 2021, Japan recognized PFOA and its salts as Class I substances defined in the Japanese Chemical Inspection Law (CSCL), and prohibited its import, production and sales. And from October 22, 2021, companies are required to label products containing PFOA and its salts. |
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