The Danish EPA has just issued a report surveying the use of polyfluoro compounds in consumer products in Denmark and the impact upon health and the environment of these substances. This report has been prepared by FORCE Technology and the Danish National Environmental Research Institute.
The new Danish EPA report, entitled “Survey and environmental/health assessment of fluorinated substances in impregnated consumer products and impregnating agents. Survey of Chemical Substances in Consumer Products no. 99. Danish Agency for Environmental Protection, 2008.” , The report is one of the results of the work of the Danish EPA on identifying hazardous chemical substances in consumer products in Denmark.
Widespread in impregnating agents and impregnated products
There are around 1000 known polyfluorinated compounds (PFCs). These are surfactants with an extremely low surface tension, and they repel water, grease and dirt; as a result, they are used as impregnating agents in various industrial products and consumer products (carpets, furniture, textiles, footwear, packaging, etc.) under brand names such as Scotchgard®, Baygard®, Gore-Tex®, Zonyl® and Stainmaster®.
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High concentrations of polyfluoro compounds have been found in polar bears from the arctic. |
The most commonly known of these compounds is perfluoroooctane sulfonic acid, PFOS. Most uses of PFOS have now been banned in the EU, but as mentioned there are hundreds of other polyfluorinated compounds which are still permitted for use, including what are known as fluorotelomer alcohols.
Danish consumption of polyfluoro compounds
According to information from the Danish Product Register, there are 92 different polyfluorinated compounds in products on the Danish market, and the annual consumption is estimated in the report to be at least 14 tonnes, but this figure may actually be more than 38 tonnes.
These substances are not degraded in nature or in waste treatment plants and can now be found everywhere in the global environment, where they are concentrated in animals and humans. The highest concentrations have been found in the blood and organs of polar bears from the Arctic.
Indoor environment most relevant
Furthermore, levels are generally higher in air and dust indoors than outdoors, because of impregnated furniture and carpets; so the indoor environment is very significant to our exposure to these substances.
PFOS and other polyfluoro compounds are found in all blood samples from the general population, and levels in Denmark are at the high end on an international scale; and these levels have been related to low birth weights in newborns.
Harmful effects not fully elucidated
Presently the knowledge about the harmful effects of these substances very limited. In the laboratory, these chemicals do have a negative effect on cell membranes, and may potentiate hazardous effects of other substances.
Tests on rats show that they may possibly have a endocrine disrupting effect. As the half-life of PFCs in rats is much shorter than in humans, the long-term effects in humans may be more serious.
A new Danish study to be published, indicates that some of the substances may affect the male reproduction.
Research continuing
FORCE Technology has followed the research in the field of polyfluorinated compounds, since the first reports on the environmental effects of these substances were published a few years ago in the USA, and it is still in contact with the researchers who discovered the substances in the Arctic polar bears.
FORCE Technology has also helped preparing previous reports on the substances for the Danish EPA and a report for the Norwegian environmental authorities (SFT).
Furthermore, staff at FORCE Technology have written a number of articles and held lectures both in Denmark and elsewhere on polyfluorinated compounds, and are currently participating in a research project studying whether these substances affect the testicular function of normal Danish young males.
Further information
Please contact:
Technical Vice-President Allan Astrup Jensen on 43 26 70 81 or mobile 40 94 10 22; or Project Manager Pia Brunn Poulsen on 72 15 78 88.
