A Critical Review of the Application of Polymer of Low Concern Regulatory Criteria to Fluoropolymers II: Fluoroplastics and Fluoroelastomers
Open accessAbstract
Fluoropolymers are a distinct class of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), high molecular weight (MW) polymers with fluorine attached to their carbon-only backbone. Fluoropolymers possess a unique combination of properties and unmatched functional performance critical to the products and manufacturing processes they enable and are irreplaceable in many uses. Fluoropolymers have documented safety profiles; are thermally, biologically, and chemically stable, negligibly soluble in water, nonmobile, nonbioavailable, nonbioaccumulative, and nontoxic. Although fluoropolymers fit the PFAS structural definition, they have very different physical, chemical, environmental, and toxicological properties when compared with other PFAS. This study describes the composition, uses, performance properties, and functionalities of 14 fluoropolymers, including fluoroplastics and fluoroelastomers, and presents data to demonstrate that they satisfy the widely accepted polymer hazard assessment criteria to be considered polymers of low concern (PLC). The PLC criteria include physicochemical properties, such as molecular weight, which determine bioavailability and warn of potential hazard. Fluoropolymers are insoluble (e.g., water, octanol) solids too large to migrate into the cell membrane making them nonbioavailable, and therefore, of low concern from a human and environmental health standpoint. Further, the study results demonstrate that fluoropolymers are a distinct and different group of PFAS and should not be grouped with other PFAS for hazard assessment or regulatory purposes. When combined with an earlier publication by Henry et al., this study demonstrates that commercial fluoropolymers are available from the seven participating companies that meet the criteria to be considered PLC, which represent approximately 96% of the global commercial fluoropolymer market. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:326-354. © 2022 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
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The large size of fluoropolymers results in their lower solubility in water, further limiting their mobility and potential for dispersion in the environment.
“In addition, the large size of fluoropolymers results in their lower solubility in water, further limiting their mobility and potential for dispersion in the environment [66,67].”
From The EU’s Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Ban: A Case of Policy over Science (2023) · cites this paper as [66]
Size, structure, and water solubility play a key role in determining the biological fate and potential damage of fluorinated substances.
“Overall, size, structure, and water solubility play a key role in determining the biological fate and potential damage of fluorinated substances [66].”
From The EU’s Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Ban: A Case of Policy over Science (2023) · cites this paper as [66]
Fluoropolymers do not pose a bioaccumulation risk because their high molecular weight prevents their absorption by the body, and thus their bioavailability.
“Fluoropolymers, on the other hand, do not pose a bioaccumulation risk because their high molecular weight prevents their absorption by the body, and thus their bioavailability [66].”
From The EU’s Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Ban: A Case of Policy over Science (2023) · cites this paper as [66]
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The EU’s Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Ban: A Case of Policy over Science
Spyrakis, F., & Dragani, T. A. (2023) · Toxics · doi:10.3390/toxics11090721 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Korzeniowski, S. H., Buck, R. C., Newkold, R. M., kassmi, A. E., Laganis, E., Matsuoka, Y., Dinelli, B., Beauchet, S., Adamsky, F., Weilandt, K., Soni, V. K., Kapoor, D., Gunasekar, P., Malvasi, M., Brinati, G., & Musio, S.
- Affiliations
- BeachEdge Consulting LLC Media Pennsylvania USA
- Chemours (United States) (US)
- AGC Chemicals Americas Exton Pennsylvania USA
- Asahi Glass (Japan) (JP)
- Arkema (France) (FR)
- Daikin (United States) (US)
- 3M (United States) (US)
- Gujarat Fluorochemicals Limited Noida Uttar Pradesh India
- Gujarat Fluorochemicals GmbH Regus Centre Watermark Hamburg Germany
- Solvay (Italy) (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Korzeniowski, Stephen H.
- ORCID
- Buck, Robert C.
- Venue
- Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2022-06-09
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 326-354
- ISSN
- 1551-3777 (ISSN-L)
- 1551-3793
- OpenAlex
- W4281688402
- Cited by
- 93
- References
- 45
- Citations by year
- 2026: 26 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 1
- FWCI
- 1.19
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- GSI Environmental
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Polymers and Plastics › Synthesis and properties of polymers
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
- Keywords
- fluorinated polymers, fluoroelastomer, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, hazard assessment, bioavailability, molecular weight, toxicology, environmental fate, regulatory requirements
- MeSH terms
- Environmental Health, Fluorocarbon Polymers, Fluorocarbons, Humans, Polymers, Water, Risk Assessment, Ecotoxicology
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