Risikobewertung von Perfluortensiden als Beitrag zur aktuellen Diskussion zum REACH-Dossier der EU-Kommission

Background

The analysis of the intrinsic effects of perfluorinated organic surfactants shows the group to have a characteristic overall picture:

-high polarity

-high thermal and chemical stability

-ubiquitous distribution

-non-biodegradability

-multiple toxicity

In addition, certain substances belonging to this group (e.g. PFOS) exhibit a very long retention time in the human body. Toxic properties vary and, like the mechanisms for global distribution, have not been fully clarified. In the meantime, individual members of this substance group have been (are being) removed from the market. This report shows that in future the planned EU chemicals law (REACH) can be used to prevent such substances being regulated after they have been distributed in the environment and thus after damage has already occurred. To this end, however, the requirements for registration for low tonnage substances (1–10 tonnes/a) must be supplemented with specific tests (in particular on biodegradability)

Aim and Scope

The aim of the work was to analyse the intrinsic properties and risks of a subgroup of fluorinated organic substances.

Results

A summarising article describes the toxic effects and properties of a group of substances selected from the approximately 30,000 existing substances. With regard to the ongoing debate on revising the European regulations of existing substances (REACH). it is apparent that standardised test requirements cannot be applied to impact and risk analyses which are at times highly complex. For governments, REACH only provides the starting points for this process in the form of prescribed standard tests. If a substance (or a substance group) draws attention, more detailed tests must be carried out by the industry itself in the framework of responsible care and in the framework of the evaluation step of REACH. It is therefore important that the standard requirements of REACH are selected appropriately. In this respect, the study reveals some serious deficiencies in the Commission proposal.

Conclusion

The standard information for low tonnage substances (1–10 tonnes/a) must be supplemented in particular with an obligatory test on biodegradability. The possibility provided by the REACH dossier to evaluate substances on the basis of group observarions (SAR, QSAR e.g.) is to be welcomed.