Toward a Comprehensive Global Emission Inventory of C4–C10Perfluoroalkanesulfonic Acids (PFSAs) and Related Precursors: Focus on the Life Cycle of C8-Based Products and Ongoing Industrial Transition
Abstract
Here a new global emission inventory of C 4 -C 10 perfluoroalkanesulfonic acids (PFSAs) from the life cycle of perfluorooctanesulfonyl fluoride (POSF)-based products in 1958-2030 is presented. In particular, we substantially improve and expand the previous frameworks by incorporating missing pieces (e.g., emissions to soil through land treatment, overlooked precursors) and updating parameters (e.g., emission factors, degradation half-lives). In 1958-2015, total direct and indirect emissions of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) are estimated as 1228-4930 tonnes, and emissions of PFOS precursors are estimated as 1230-8738 tonnes and approximately 670 tonnes for x-perfluorooctanesulfonamides/sulfonamido ethanols (xFOSA/Es) and POSF, respectively. Most of these emissions occurred between 1958 and 2002, followed by a substantial decrease. This confirms the positive effect of the ongoing transition to phase out POSF-based products, although this transition may still require substantial time and cause substantial additional releases of PFOS (8-153 tonnes) and xFOSA/Es (4-698 tonnes) in 2016 to 2030. The modeled environmental concentrations obtained by coupling the emission inventory and a global multimedia mass-balance model generally agree well with reported field measurements, suggesting that the inventory captures the actual emissions of PFOS and xFOSA/Es for the time being despite remaining uncertainties. Our analysis of the key uncertainties and open questions of and beyond t…
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Short-chain PFAS and emerging compounds are gradually replacing legacy C8 PFAS as major contaminants in surface water.
“they are gradually replacing legacy C8 PFAS as major contaminants in surface water”
From Molecular characteristics of emerging perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and dissolved organic matter (DOM) in surface waters around fluorine-related industries in a Chinese Megacity (2025) · cites this paper as Wang et al., 2017
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- Authors
- Wang, Z., Boucher, J. M., Scheringer, M., Cousins, I. T., & Hungerbühler, K.
- Affiliations
- ETH Zurich (CH)
- Masaryk University (CZ)
- Stockholm University (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Wang, Zhanyun
- Scheringer, Martin
- Venue
- Environmental Science & Technology
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Published
- 2017-04-04
- Volume
- 51
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 4482-4493
- ISSN
- 0013-936X (ISSN-L)
- 1520-5851
- OpenAlex
- W2602988735
- Cited by
- 159
- References
- 16
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 2
- FWCI
- 7.88
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Environmental Science & Technology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Bundesamt f?r Umwelt
- Ministerstvo ?kolstv?, Ml?de?e a Telov?chovy (LM2015051)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmaceutical Science › Fluorine in Organic Chemistry
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
- Keywords
- PFOS, emission inventory, life cycle emissions, soil emissions, fluorinated polymers, environmental concentrations, emission factors, uncertainty analysis
- MeSH terms
- Environment, Environmental Monitoring, Fluorocarbons, Models, Theoretical, Soil
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