Research and analysis

Environmental risk evaluation reports: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) - summary

Published 4 April 2023

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/environmental-risk-evaluation-reports-per-and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas/environmental-risk-evaluation-reports-per-and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas-summary

1. Chief Scientist’s Group report summary

This project has produced nine reports on the environmental hazards and risks from certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) being made or used in the UK. This work contributes to the UK Government’s action plan to address concerns arising from PFAS by providing an informal assessment of the available data to gain a better understanding of the hazards, exposure and risks these substances may pose to the UK environment.

1.1 Approach

The reports focus on the following eight PFAS (with their Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) registry numbers):

  • Octafluoropropane - also known as perfluoropropane or PFP (CAS no. 76-19-7)
  • Hexafluoropropene or HFP (CAS no. 116-15-4)
  • Perflunafene - also known as perfluorodecalin or PFD (CAS no. 306-94-5)
  • 1,1,1,2,2,3,3,4,5,5,5-Undecafluoro-4-(trifluoromethyl)pentane - also known as perfluoroisohexane or PFiHx (CAS no. 355-04-4)
  • Trideca-1,1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6-fluorohexane - also known as 1H-perfluorohexane or 1H-PFHx (CAS no. 355-37-3)
  • 31,1,1,2,2,3,3-Heptafluoro-3-[(trifluorovinyl)oxy]propane - also known as perfluoro(propyl vinyl ether) or PPVE (CAS no. 1623-05-8)
  • 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-Nonafluorohexene - also known as perfluorobutylethylene or PFBE (CAS no. 19430-93-4)
  • Ammonium difluoro[1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-2-(pentafluoroethoxy)ethoxy]acetate - also known as perfluoros[(2-ethoxy-2-fluoroethoxy)acetic acid], ammonium salt or EEA-NH4 (CAS no. 908020-52-0)

These PFAS are all manufactured or imported into the UK in quantities above 1 tonne per year and were selected to represent different types and uses of PFAS. An additional report covers a PFAS that seems to be of low commercial importance but has nevertheless been detected at very low concentrations in UK surface water monitoring:

  • 6:2 Chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate, 6:2 Cl-PFESA - known as ‘F-53B’ (CAS no. 73606-19-6)

F-53B was assessed because it is a possible substitute for perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), which is subject to stringent risk management measures.

Each report considers the reliability and relevance of the available substance identity, physico-chemical, environmental fate and toxicity information to determine relevant environmental hazards and risks. Likely environmental pathways and numerical exposure limits are established where possible.

These reports are not formal evaluations under UK REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) legislation, though they make use of publicly available registration data provided under REACH and additional information sources.

1.2 Outcomes

The reports highlight information gaps regarding these particular PFAS and ways these could be addressed. They have been used by the Environment Agency to inform further regulatory work, including a UK REACH Regulatory Management Options Analysis (RMOA) on PFAS produced jointly with the Health and Safety Executive.

This summary relates to information from chemical substance assessments reported in detail in the following outputs:

  1. Environmental risk evaluation report: Perfluoropropane [PFP] (CAS no. 76-19-7)
  2. Environmental risk evaluation report: Hexafluoropropene [HFP] (CAS no. 116-15-4)
  3. Environmental risk evaluation report: Perflunafene [PFD] (CAS no. 206-94-5)
  4. Environmental risk evaluation report: Perfluoroisohexane [PFiHx] (CAS no. 355-04-4)
  5. Environmental risk evaluation report: Trideca-1,1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6-fluorohexane [1H-PFHx] (CAS no. 355-37-3)
  6. Environmental risk evaluation report: 1,1,1,2,2,3,3-Heptafluoro-3-[(trifluorovinyl)oxy]propane [PPVE] (CAS no. 1623-05-8)
  7. Environmental risk evaluation report: 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-Nonafluorohexene [Perfluorobutylethylene; PFBE] (CAS no. 19430-93-4)
  8. Environmental risk evaluation report: Perfluoro(2-ethoxy-2-fluoroethoxy)-acetic acid, ammonium salt [EEA-NH4] (CAS no. 908020-52-0)
  9. Environmental risk evaluation report: Potassium 9-chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanonane-1-sulfonate [F-53B] (CAS no. 73606-19-6)

These reports were written by the Environment Agency’s Chief Scientist’s Group, which provides scientific knowledge, tools and techniques to enable us to protect and manage the environment as effectively as possible.

Enquiries: research@environment-agency.gov.uk.

© Environment Agency

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