PFHxS Added to the POPs Regulation: What You Need to Know
In a significant environmental development, the European Union (EU) regulatory update has expanded its persistent organic pollutants (POPs) Recast Regulation to encompass PFHxS, along with its salts and related compounds. This legislative expansion came into force on August 28, 2023. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) represent a class of toxic chemicals that can be either naturally occurring or synthetic. These substances share traits of being persistent, bioaccumulative, semi-volatile, and intrinsically highly toxic. The EU’s POPs Regulation, originally established in 2019, is designed to restrict and, in some cases, prohibit the production, market presence, and utilization of POPs. Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) is a member of the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) family, serving as an alternative to perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). PFHxS finds widespread application in various industries, including firefighting foams, metal plating, textiles, leather, polishes, cleaning agents, coatings, and electronics. The presence of PFHxS and similar substances poses a direct threat to human health and the environment, accumulating within the bodies of both humans and wildlife and contributing to global pollution. On August 8, 2023, the European Commission introduced a revised amendment (EU) 2023/1608 to the EU Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation 2019/1021. This amendment specifically integrates perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts, and PFHxS-related compounds into the regulation, with particular provisions for intermediate use or specific scenarios. The limits established for PFHxS, its salts, and related compounds in substances, mixtures, and articles are as follows: PFHxS or any of its salts: ≤ 25 ppb (0.025 mg/kg) PFHxS-related compounds: ≤ 1 mg/kg (sum). PFHxS in firefighting foam mixtures: ≤ 0.1 mg/kg ComplianceXL extends its support to companies seeking PFAS compliance. We offer consulting services in this domain and assist with the collection of PFAS declarations from vendors. Additionally, we help our clients with maintaining up-to-date certificates and declarations from their suppliers, ensuring a robust compliance data management strategy. FAQs 1. What are PFHxS and PFHxS-related compounds means? Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) including any of its branched isomers. PFHxS-related compounds are substances that degrade to PFHxS, including substances that contain the chemical moiety C6F13S- as one of its structural elements. 2. What is the limit set for PFHxS in firefighting foams? The limit set for PFHxS in firefighting foams is ≤ 0.1 mg/kg
US EPA add more chemicals to Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)
SCIL runs a chemical list by its functional-use class, which EPA’s Safer Choice program has evaluated and determined to meet Safer Choice criteria. SCIL chemicals are among the safest for their functional use. It ensures there is no confidential or trade secret information appears on the list. Safer choice standard and criteria for safer chemical ingredients that are protective and address a broader range of toxicological effects have: Authoritative lists of chemicals of concern. CMR(Carcinogenic, mutagenic and reproductive toxic) or developmental toxicants; PBT chemicals systemic or internal organ toxicants asthmagens sensitizers In additional to these, the additions are: Chemical that has endocrine activity are closely monitored. Those that have toxicological hazards are not allowed. Safer choice has limited the impurity criteria to not more than 0.01% in final products. This list does not include impurities. The chemicals are represented with different colored marks: Green circle: Chemicals of low concern based on experimental data. Green half-circle: Chemicals expected to be of low concern based on experimental data. Additional data would strengthen their confidence in the chemical’s safer status. Yellow triangle: The chemical has met Safer Choice Criteria for its functional ingredient-class ,but has issues in some hazard profile. Specifically, a chemical with this code is not associated with a low level of hazard concern but best-in-class chemical and among the safest available for a particular function. Grey square: Chemical will not be acceptable for use in products that are candidates for the Safer Choice label List of stakeholders who can used SCIL Environmental and health advocates use this as a supporting list in their work with industry to encourage the use of the safest possible chemistry. Chemical manufacturers use this for promoting the safer chemicals they manufacture. Product manufacturers use the SCIL as a guide in making high-functioning products that contain safer ingredients. Retailers use the list to shape their sustainability programs. In the coming year, EPA hopes to expand the Safer Choice program to make products containing safer chemicals increasingly available to a larger community. Talk to one of our TSCA Specialists today!