TY - JOUR
T1 - Scientific Basis for Managing PFAS as a Chemical Class
AU - Kwiatkowski, Carol F.
AU - Andrews, David Q.
AU - Birnbaum, Linda S.
AU - Bruton, Thomas A.
AU - Dewitt, Jamie C.
AU - Knappe, Detlef R.U.
AU - Maffini, Maricel V.
AU - Miller, Mark F.
AU - Pelch, Katherine E.
AU - Reade, Anna
AU - Soehl, Anna
AU - Trier, Xenia
AU - Venier, Marta
AU - Wagner, Charlotte C.
AU - Wang, Zhanyun
AU - Blum, Arlene
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding was supplied by charitable contributions to The Endocrine Disruption Exchange (C.F.K. and K.E.P.), the Green Science Policy Institute (T.A.B., A.S., and A.B.), and the Natural Resources Defense Council (A.R.). C.W. was supported by the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences Superfund Research Program (P42ES027706). D.R.U.K. and J.C.D. were supported by the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences Superfund Research Program (1 P42 ES031009-01).
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2020 American Chemical Society.
PY - 2020/8/11
Y1 - 2020/8/11
N2 - This commentary presents a scientific basis for managing as one chemical class the thousands of chemicals known as PFAS (per- A nd polyfluoroalkyl substances). The class includes perfluoroalkyl acids, perfluoroalkylether acids, and their precursors; fluoropolymers and perfluoropolyethers; and other PFAS. The basis for the class approach is presented in relation to their physicochemical, environmental, and toxicological properties. Specifically, the high persistence, accumulation potential, and/or hazards (known and potential) of PFAS studied to date warrant treating all PFAS as a single class. Examples are provided of how some PFAS are being regulated and how some businesses are avoiding all PFAS in their products and purchasing decisions. We conclude with options for how governments and industry can apply the class-based approach, emphasizing the importance of eliminating non-essential uses of PFAS, and further developing safer alternatives and methods to remove existing PFAS from the environment.
AB - This commentary presents a scientific basis for managing as one chemical class the thousands of chemicals known as PFAS (per- A nd polyfluoroalkyl substances). The class includes perfluoroalkyl acids, perfluoroalkylether acids, and their precursors; fluoropolymers and perfluoropolyethers; and other PFAS. The basis for the class approach is presented in relation to their physicochemical, environmental, and toxicological properties. Specifically, the high persistence, accumulation potential, and/or hazards (known and potential) of PFAS studied to date warrant treating all PFAS as a single class. Examples are provided of how some PFAS are being regulated and how some businesses are avoiding all PFAS in their products and purchasing decisions. We conclude with options for how governments and industry can apply the class-based approach, emphasizing the importance of eliminating non-essential uses of PFAS, and further developing safer alternatives and methods to remove existing PFAS from the environment.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85087738942&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1021/acs.estlett.0c00255
DO - 10.1021/acs.estlett.0c00255
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85087738942
SN - 2328-8930
VL - 7
SP - 532
EP - 543
JO - Environmental Science and Technology Letters
JF - Environmental Science and Technology Letters
IS - 8
ER -