PFAS

PFAS

History

PFAS are a class of fluorine containing human-synthesized chemicals that have been widely used in consumer and industrial products since the 1950s. PFAS do not readily break down, so they can accumulate in people and in the environment. PFAS have useful properties that make them common in many industries. Some of the most common uses are to reduce friction or surface tension, to increase wettability and to repel water, dirt or grease. Some industries are known for using PFAS, such as:

  • Plating, which has historically used PFAS for fume suppressing,
  • Printing, which often has PFAS in inks to help them flow more smoothly, and
  • Semiconductor manufacturing, which typically uses PFAS for photolithography
    and etching.

However, other common uses of PFAS show up in any industry. Some of the most
common of these include floor waxes, roofing materials, Teflon coated bearings and
surfaces, lithium batteries, and Teflon tape.

Definition

There are multiple ways to define what is or is not considered a Perfluoroalkyl and
polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS). Minnesota defines PFAS as a class of fluorinated
organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom.
For the purposes of the TSCA PFAS 8(a)(7) Reporting Rule, EPA defines PFAS as any
chemical substance that includes at least one of these three structures:

  1. R-(CF2)-CF(R’)R’’, where both the CF2 and CF moieties are saturated carbons
  2. R-CF2OCF2-R’, where R and R’ can either be F, O, or saturated carbons
  3. CF3C(CF3)R’R’’, where R’ and R” can either be F or saturated carbons

Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), also known
as Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), the 189 PFAS
included on the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Chemical List have been designated as
chemicals of special concern, which excludes them from the de minimis exemption.

Health Effects

Some PFAS are known to cause health problems such as immune suppression, cholesterol elevation, hormone disruption, decreased fertility, and kidney and testicular cancers.

Source Reduction Tools & Links

If you received a paper mailing regarding PFAS Source Reduction tools, here are the links and resources you need.

Key Resources

Complete List of Links