Are imported consumer products an important diffuse source of PFASs to the Norwegian environment?

Vestergren, Robin; Herzke, Dorte; Wang, Thanh; Cousins, Ian T.

Are imported consumer products an important diffuse source of PFASs to the Norwegian environment?

2015

Vestergren, Robin | Herzke, Dorte | Wang, Thanh | Cousins, Ian T.

The aim of this study was to measure perfluoroalkyl substances in a selection of imported consumer products (n = 45) and estimate population normalized emission rates during the use phase. 6:2 and 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (FTOH) were found in the highest concentrations ranging from <MDL to 374 and 163 μg m−2 respectively. Concentrations of FTOHs were approximately 2–3 orders of magnitude higher than those of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs). Although perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was detected in one carpet sample at 1.7 μg m−2, the majority of samples complied with regulatory limits for PFOS in the EU. Population normalized emission rates of perfluorooctanoic acid, 6:2 FTOH and 8:2 FTOH from imported consumer products were estimated to be 6.6, 2130 and 197 μg year−1 capita−1 respectively for the “intermediate” emission scenario. The results from this study suggest that emissions from imported products would have a small impact on the environmental concentrations of perfluoroalkyl acids on a regional scale.

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