PFOS is persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic to human. December 17, 2006, the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers jointly released the Directive “Restriction on the marketing and use of perfluorooctane sulfonate (2006/122/EC). PFOA is short for perfluorooctanoic acid, and has been prohibited according to general safety standards under EU Directive 2004/1935/EC.
As one of the most important chemicals in the 20th century, fluorinated organic compounds in the field of industrial production and consumption have been widely used. PFOS is short for perfluorooctane sulfonates, and the substances that can break down into PFOS are known as chemicals related to PFOS.
Application of PFOS
■ Used as surface treatment PFOS chemical, used primarily in water, oil and grease repellents for personal clothes, home decorations, automobile interior;
■ Used as paper protection PFOS chemical, as forming pulp, helps paper and cardboard to be anti-oil and waterproofing;
■ Used in specialized industrial, commercial and consumer area, including PFOS salt.
PFOS hazard
Perfluorinated chemicals can accumulate in fatty tissue of living organisms and are harmful to human and wildlife. It is proved that contacting with perfluorinated chemicals like PFOS and PFOA could result in baby born with defects, deteriorating baby’s immune system and thyroid function. So during pregnancy, PFOS is a potential danger.
PFOS regulations
On 27 December 2006, the European Parliament and the Council published directive restrictions on the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations (perfluorooctane sulfonates) (2006/122/EC). The directive was effective immediately.
■ Member States shall adopt and publish, not later than 27 December 2007, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive;
■ All member state shall apply these measures from 27 June 2008;
■ Fire-fighting foams that have been placed on the market before 27 December 2006 can be used until 27 June 2011;
■ Not later than 27 December 2008 Member States shall establish and communicate to the Commission an inventory that covers processes that are subject to derogation in electroplating industryand the amounts of PFOS used in and released from them, and existing stocks of fire-fighting foams containing PFOS.
PFOS limitations
PFOS may not be placed on the market or used as a substance or constituent of preparations in a concentration equal to or higher than 0,005 % by mass, and may not be placed on the market in semi-finished products or articles, or parts thereof, if the concentration of PFOS is equal to or higher than 0,1 % by mass or, for textiles or other coated materials, if the amount of PFOS is equal to or higher than 1 μg/m2 of the coated material.
PFOA
PFOA and its salt, including home appliance surface treatment (anti-oil), convenient food package etc, are susceptible to be as hazardous as PFOS. EU parliament has made restrictions on PFOS and PFOA, asking to look for substitute material or method. The potential hazard has also arisen attention of FDA and PFOA has been listed in state ofCaliforniaas carcinogenic material.
Norwayhas recently announced the restriction of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and esters, in consumer products. Dependent on the product, the enforcement dates start in June 2014.
The limits have been set for mixture, textiles and for other consumer products as below:
PFOA in a mixture –0.001% (10 mg/kg)
PFOA in textiles –1 μg/m2
PFOA in other consumer products –0.1% (1000 mg/kg)
PFOA has been used in a variety of consumer products for many years. One of the significant uses of the substance has been to provide water resistant coatings to textile products. PFOA related substances have also been used to provide stain resistant coatings to apparel, other textile products and to carpets.
The Ministry has moved to implement the measure as the substance has been shown to be harmful to health and the environment. PFOA has been classified as being a PBT (persistent, bioaccumalative toxin) and is identified as a Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC).
A link to theNorwayrestriction is below:
PTS Testing Service provides PFOS/PFOA detection service.
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Regulations
EU REACH Regulation
EU POPs Regulation
Oeko-Tex®Standard 100
CanadaProhibition of Certain Toxic Substances (SOR/2012-285)
StockholmConvention
CA Prop 65
Other Stipulations
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued PFOS ban in 2000, excluding special applications in aviation, photography and micro-electronics industries;
The Government of Canada announced that PFOS and its derivatives were listed as hazardous substances in 2006 ;
Australiastipulated that the application of PFOS and related chemicals was allowed when no safer alternatives were available;
Swedenproposed a global ban on PFOS and its derivatives according to Stockholm Convention concerning POPs in 2005.
PFOA / PFOS Testing to 1µg/m2
PTS Testing Service PFOA / PFOS testing services – Leather and textile testing to 1µg/m2
PFOS testing can be carried out by PTS Testing Service to accurately test leather and textiles to 1µg/m2 using Liquid Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS). This ability to measure in such fine quantities enables PTS Testing Service to identify even the smallest quantity of PFOS in your products. PTS Testing Service test leather and textile products in the following categories for PFOS:
Footwear
Clothing
Bags and luggage
Leathergoods
Jewellery
Upholstery
Being able to test consumer products to for PFOA / PFOS to 1µg/m2, enables BLC to provide greater support to customers with international chemical and product safety legislation compliance.
PTS Testing Service can carry out your PFOA / PFOS test in 3-5 working days. A next day express service is also available.
Get a quote for PFOA / PFOS testing in leather and textiles
What is Perfluorooctane sulfonic acids (PFOS)?
Perfluorooctane sulfonic acids (PFOS) are anions that are commercially available in the form of salts, derivatives and polymers. The major uses for PFOS-related substances are in providing grease, oil and water resistance to materials such as textiles, carpets, paper and in general coatings. Other smaller volume uses are in chromium plating, photography, photolithography, fire fighting foams and in hydraulic fluids for aviation.
Why carry out PFOS testing on consumer products?
PFOS has been classified as persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic (PBT) and, as a result, has been restricted under Annex XVII of REACH.
PFOS is regulated as a Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP) and many of its previous uses are banned. The EU POPs Regulation allows certain uses of PFOS to continue because assessments have shown that the environmental risks can be mitigated and do not outweigh the potential risks to human health as there are no recognised alternatives at this time. Uses which are currently exempt from the PFOS ban are as follows:
Photoresists or anti-reflective coatings for photolithography processes
Photographic coatings applied to films, papers, or printing plates
Mist suppressants for non-decorative hard chromium (VI) plating and wetting agents for use in controlled electroplating systems where the amount of PFOS released into the environment is minimised
Hydraulic fluids for aviation
Anyone within the supply chain involved with a PFOS material that is covered by an exemption must make sure they manage their stocks and wastes as prescribed by the EU POPs Regulation, and test products accordingly.
Risks of non-compliance
PFOS has been found to be moderately toxic following ingestion, causing effects on the liver and gastrointestinal tract, with hepatotoxicity identified as the main health effect. In addition to this, at very high exposure levels PFOS has carcinogenic properties. It has also been found that dermal exposure can lead to skin irritation.
Furthermore PFOS compounds break down into Perfluorooctane sulfonate – a chemical that is a persistent organic pollutant (POP). Once POPs are in the environment, they are very difficult to get rid of. They can cross international boundaries by air and water currents and bioaccumulate to toxic levels in plants and animals.
PFOS 2006/122/EC
Limitation:
May not be placed on the market or used as a substance or constituent of preparations in a concentration equal to or higher than 0,005 % by mass.
May not be placed on the market in semi-finished products or articles, or parts thereof, if the concentration of PFOS is equal to or higher than 0,1 % by mass calculated with reference to the mass of structurally or microstructurally distinct parts that contain PFOS or, for textiles or other coated materials, if the amount of PFOS is equal to or higher than 1 μg/m2 of the coated material.
Reason: PFOS is an extremely stable chemical compound, resisting degradation in the environment. Like PFOA, PFOS also accumulates in the liver, blood and milk. PFOS has been associated in animal studies with developmental toxicity, cancer and impairment of thyroid, liver and immune system functions. Scientists have discovered that PFOS “readily crosses the placenta and is secreted in milk”in humans. Like PFOS, emerging science suggests that PFOS may be associated with infertility in women.he U.S. EPA conducted a risk assessment of PFOS and found “suggestive evidence ”that PFOS could cause cancer in humans.
Norwayhas recently announced the restriction of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and esters, in consumer products. Dependent on the product, the enforcement dates start in June 2014.
The limits have been set for mixture, textiles and for other consumer products as below:
PFOA in a mixture –0.001% (10 mg/kg)
PFOA in textiles –1 μg/m2
PFOA in other consumer products –0.1% (1000 mg/kg)
PFOA has been used in a variety of consumer products for many years. One of the significant uses of the substance has been to provide water resistant coatings to textile products. PFOA related substances have also been used to provide stain resistant coatings to apparel, other textile products and to carpets.
The Ministry has moved to implement the measure as the substance has been shown to be harmful to health and the environment. PFOA has been classified as being a PBT (persistent, bioaccumalative toxin) and is identified as a Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC).
A link to theNorwayrestriction is below:
