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. 2015 Oct;22(19):14546-59.
doi: 10.1007/s11356-015-4202-7. Epub 2015 Feb 19.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in consumer products

Matthias Kotthoff  1 , Josef Müller  2 , Heinrich Jürling  3 , Martin Schlummer  4 , Dominik Fiedler  5
Affiliations

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in consumer products

Matthias Kotthoff et al. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2015 Oct.

Abstract

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are used in a wide range of products of all day life. Due to their toxicological potential, an emerging focus is directed towards their exposure to humans. This study investigated the PFAS load of consumer products in a broad perspective. Perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (C4, C6-C8, C10-PFSA), carboxylic acids (C4-C14-PFCA) and fluorotelomer alcohols (4:2, 6:2; 8:2 and 10:2 FTOH) were analysed in 115 random samples of consumer products including textiles (outdoor materials), carpets, cleaning and impregnating agents, leather samples, baking and sandwich papers, paper baking forms and ski waxes. PFCA and PFSA were analysed by HPLC-MS/MS, whereas FTOH were detected by GC/CI-MS. Consumer products such as cleaning agents or some baking and sandwich papers show low or negligible PFSA and PFCA contents. On the other hand, high PFAS levels were identified in ski waxes (up to about 2000 μg/kg PFOA), leather samples (up to about 200 μg/kg PFBA and 120 μg/kg PFBS), outdoor textiles (up to 19 μg/m(2) PFOA) and some other baking papers (up to 15 μg/m(2) PFOA). Moreover, some test samples like carpet and leather samples and outdoor materials exceeded the EU regulatory threshold value for PFOS (1 μg/m(2)). A diverse mixture of PFASs can be found in consumer products for all fields of daily use in varying concentrations. This study proves the importance of screening and monitoring of consumer products for PFAS loads and the necessity for an action to regulate the use of PFASs, especially PFOA, in consumer products.

Keywords: Consumer products; Food contact materials; Outdoor textiles; PFAA; PFAS; PFOA; PFOS; Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Shown are ranges of PFAS levels in selected consumer products. Bars reach from min to max values of analysis; black dots reflect the median. Units are μg/kg for cleaner, paper-based food contact materials (FCMs) and impregnating sprays, and μg/m2 for outdoor textiles, gloves and leather
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Bar chart of PFAS levels in three selected, parallel analysed textiles. Displayed are means of PFCA and PFSA of even chain lengths from C4 to C10 and their respective potential precursor FTOHs from 4:2 to 10:2
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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