Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a broad class of thousands of man-made synthetic fluorinated chemicals used in various industries and consumer goods since the 1940s. PFAS do not occur naturally in the environment. The strong carbon-fluorine bonds present in this chemistry prevents them from degradation during usage and in the environment and hence they are known as “forever chemicals”. PFAS are also easily transmitted in the environment across great distances from their point of release and some are hence included as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) under the Stockholm Convention.
Due to their extensive use, ability to migrate and persistence, they can be found in low concentrations in a range of food items as well as in the environment and in the blood of humans and other animals worldwide 1, 2
(All these effects are not caused by every individual PFAS, but certain health and environmental hazards such as persistence are common properties of these substances)
The term PFAS refers to fluorinated substances that have at least one fully fluorinated methyl (-CF3 ) or methylene (-CF2-) carbon atom (without any H/Cl/Br/I atom attached to it). 8 The chemistry is further divided into two types: 5
where the Fluorine atoms are directly bonded to the carbon-only polymer backbone or a carbon-oxygen polymer backbone or where fluorinated side-chains branch out from the carbon polymer backbone. Fluoropolymers (like PTFE, ETFE) and fluorinated polymers (like fluorinated urethane polymers) that are used for repellent functional finishes in the textile and leather supply chain are examples of polymer PFAS.
All hydrogen atoms on all carbon atoms in the alkyl chain attached to a functional group have been replaced with fluorine (per fluoroalkyl substances)
Examples:
The chemical industry has worked on a number of fluorine-free substitutes due to the harmful concerns of PFAS. These chemical products can only impart the durable water repellancy and not oil repellancy. These formulations are based on following chemistries: 4, 9
The OECD offers some information on PFAS alternatives based on country-specific studies for alternatives, however they are not supported by the entire group of companies. 3, 10 Any alternative selected must be carefully vetted to ensure a regrettable substitution is not made. Also, the chosen alternative must be conformant to the latest version of the ZDHC MRSL.
Many nations across the world have regulations regarding the use of PFAS in products in the form of complete bans or limits. Uniform regulations for these substance class(es) currently exist in Europe in Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 REACH (Annex XVII; Candidate List) and Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 (POP Regulation), among others.11
Some important regulations are listed here for general reference with no intention to be used as a reference for any legal compliance purpose and this information is updated to the issue date of this document: 2, 5
The use of any formulation based on, or including PFAS, is not permitted (for fashion, sport or outdoor clothing and apparel and home textiles) as per the ZDHC MRSL V3.0 published in November 2022.13
PFAS for certain technical textiles
There may be certain critical (technical textile) end uses where legally or contractually mandated standards may only be achieved using PFAS (e.g. military, medical, protective clothing, transportation). Only fluorinated polymers based on C6 telomer chemistry with a minimised content of impurities may be applicated for these essential uses. Nevertheless, the chemical formulations within the chemical inventory of a Supplier will always be deemed ZDHC MRSL non-conformant and the ZDHC Supplier Platform will appraise the end uses of any PFAS within an inventory.
There are thousands of individual substances categorised as PFAS. For confirmatory testing as mentioned in the ZDHC MRSL V3.0, the procedures and substance series should be considered as mentioned in the relevant standards for textile and leather: EN 17681-1, 2022; EN 17681-2, 2022; EN ISO 23702-1, 2021; EN ISO 20137, 2022. The below table is for information only about the broad class of PFAS substances.
Table 1 (For information only): Broad class of PFAS14
Substance | CAS No. |
---|---|
Perfluorocarboxylic acids and its salts | Several |
Perfluorobutanoic acid and its salts | Several |
Perfluorobutanoic acid | 375-22-4 |
Perfluorohexanoic acid and its salts | Several |
Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) | 307-24-4 |
Substance | CAS No. |
---|---|
Perfluoroheptanoic acid | 375-85-9 |
Perfluorooctanoic acid and its salts | Several |
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) | 335-67-1 |
Ammonium pentadecafluoro octanoate | 3825-26-1 |
Octanoic acid, 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8- pentadecafluoro-, sodium salt (1:1) | 335-95-5 |
Potassium perfluorooctanoate | 2395-00-8 |
Perfluorononanoic acid and its salts | Several |
Perfluorononanoic acid | 375-95-1 |
Sodium salts of perfluorononan-1-oic-acid | 21049-39-8 |
Ammonium salts of perfluorononan-1-oic-acid | 4149-60-4 |
Perfluorodecanoic acid and its salts | Several |
Perfluorodecanoic acid | 335-76-2 |
Ammonium nonadecafluoro-decanoate | 3108-42-7 |
Decanoic acid, nonadecafluoro-, sodium salt | 3830-45-3 |
Perfluoroundecanoic acid and its salts | Several |
Perfluoroundecanoic acid | 2058-94-8 |
Perfluorododecanoic acid and its salts | Several |
Perfluorododecanoic acid | 307-55-1 |
Perfluorotridecanoic acid and its salts | Several |
Perfluorotridecanoic acid | 72629-94-8 |
Perfluorotetradecanoic acid and its salts | Several |
Perfluorotetradecanoic acid | 0376-06-07 |
Perfluorohexanoic acid related substances | Several |
Perfluorohexylethyl alcohols | Several |
Perfluorohexyl-ethanol | 647-42-7 |
Perfluorohexylethyl olefins | Several |
Perfluorohexylethene | 25291-17-2 |
Perfluorohexylethyl halides | Several |
Tridecafluoro-1-iodohexane | 355-43-1 |
1H,1H,2H,2H-Perfluorooctyliodide | 2043-57-4 |
Perfluorohexylethyl acrylates or methacrylates | Several |
Perfluorohexylethyl polymers | Several |
Perfluorooctanoic acid related substances | Several |
Methyl perfluorooctanoate | 376-27-2 |
Ethyl perfluorooctanoate | 3108-24-5 |
Perfluorooctylethyl alcohols | Several |
Perfluorooctylethanol | 678-39-7 |
Perfluorooctylethyl olefins | Several |
Perfluorooctylethene | 21652-58-4 |
Perfluorooctylethyl halides | Several |
Heptadecafluoro-1-iodooctane | 507-63-1 |
1H,1H,2H,2H-Perfluorodecyliodide | 2043-53-0 |
Pentadecafluorooctyl fluoride | 335-66-0 |
Perfluorooctylethyl acrylate or methacrylate | Several |
Perfluorooctylethyl polymers | Several |
Perfluoroalkyl compounds, branched | Several |
2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy)propionic acid, its salts and its acyl halides | Several |
2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoro-propoxy) propionic acid | 13252-13-6 |
Potassium 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoro-propoxy) propionate | 67118-55-2 |
Ammonium 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy)propanoate | 62037-80-3 |
2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoro-propoxy) propionyl fluoride | 2062-98-8 |
Perfluoroalkyl Sulfonic Acids and Derivatives - PFSA | |
Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid and its derivatives | Several |
Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid and its salts | Several |
Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid | 375-73-5 |
Perfluorobutane sulfonates | 45187-15-3 |
Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid and its derivatives | Several |
Perfluorohexane sulphonic acid and its salts | Several |
Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid | 355-46-4 |
Perfluorohexane sulfonate | 108427-53-8 |
Potassium perfluorohexane-1-sulphonate | 3871-99-6 |
Ammonium perfluorohexane-1-sulphonate | 2723-08-05 |
Tridecafluorohexanesulphonic acid, compound with 2,2'-iminodiethanol (1:1) | 70225-16-0 |
1-Hexanesulfonic acid, 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-tridecafluoro-, lithium salt (1:1) | 55120-77-9 |
1-Hexanesulfonic acid, 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-tridecafluoro-, zinc salt | 70136-72-0 |
1-Hexanesulfonic acid, 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-tridecafluoro-, compd. with N,N-diethylethanamine (1:1) | 72033-41-1 |
1-Hexanesulfonic acid, 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-tridecafluoro-, sodium salt | 16846-12-05 |
Iodonium, bis[(1,1- dimethylethyl)phenyl]-, salt with 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-tridecafluoro-1- hexanesulfonic acid (1:1) (9CI) | 866621-50-3 |
Sulfonium, (4-methylphenyl)diphenyl-, 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-tridecafluoro-1- hexanesulfonate (1:1) | 910606-39-2 |
Sulfonium, [4-[(2-methyl-1-oxo-2- propenyl)oxy]phenyl]diphenyl-, salt with 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-tridecafluoro-1- hexanesulfonic acid (1:1) | 911027-69-5 |
1-Hexanesulfonic acid, 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-tridecafluoro-, cesium salt (1:1) | 92011-17-1 |
1-Butanaminium, N,N,N-tributyl-, salt with1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6- tridecafluoro-1-hexanesulfonic acid | 108427-54-9 |
Ethanaminium, N,N,N-triethyl-, salt with 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-tridecafluoro-1- hexanesulfonic acid (1:1) | 108427-55-0 |
1-Hexanesulfonic acid, 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-tridecafluoro-, compd. with pyrrolidine (1:1) | 1187817-57-7 |
Beta-Cyclodextrin, compd. with 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-tridecafluoro-1- hexanesulfonic acid ion(1-) (1:1) | 1329995-45-0 |
Gamma-Cyclodextrin, compd. with 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-tridecafluoro-1- hexanesulfonic acid ion(1-) (1:1) | 1329995-69-8 |
Methanaminium, N,N,N-trimethyl-, salt with1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6- tridecafluoro-1-hexanesulfonic acid (1:1) | 189274-31-5 |
1-Hexanesulfonic acid, 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-tridecafluoro-, compd.with 2-methyl-2-propanamine (1:1) | 202189-84-2 |
1-Hexanesulfonic acid, 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-tridecafluoro-, gallium salt (9CI) | 341035-71-0 |
1-Hexanesulfonic acid, 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-tridecafluoro-, scandium(3+) salt (3:1) | 350836-93-0 |
Sulfonium, tris[4-(1,1- dimethylethyl)phenyl]-, salt with 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-tridecafluoro-1- hexanesulfonic | 425670-70-8 |
Iodonium, bis[4-(1,1- dimethylpropyl)phenyl]-, salt with 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-tridecafluoro-1- hexanesulfonic | 421555-74-0 |
Sulfonium, (thiodi-4,1- phenylene)bis[diphenyl-, salt with 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-tridecafluoro-1- hexanesulfonic | 421555-73-9 |
1-Hexanesulfonic acid, 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-tridecafluoro-, neodymium(3+) salt (3:1) | 41184-65-0 |
1-Hexanesulfonic acid, 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-tridecafluoro-, yttrium(3+) salt (3:1) | 41242-12-0 |
Sulfonium, [4-[(2-methyl-1-oxo-2- propen-1-yl)oxy]phenyl]diphenyl-, 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-tridecafluoro-1- hexanesulfonate (1:1) | 911027-68-4 |
Dibenzo[k,n][1,4,7,10,13]tetraoxathiacy clopentadecinium, 19-[4-(1,1- dimethylethyl)phenyl]-6,7,9,10,12,13- hexahydro-, 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6- tridecafluoro-1-hexanesulfonate (1:1) | 928049-42-7 |
Phosphonium, triphenyl(phenylmethyl)-, 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-tridecafluoro-1-hexanesulfonate (1:1) | 1000597-52-3 |
Ethanaminium, N-[4-[[4-(diethylamino)phenyl][4-(ethylamino)-1-naphthalenyl]methylene]-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-ylidene]-N-ethyl-, 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-tridecafluoro-1- hexanesulfonate (1:1) | 1310480-24-0 |
Methanaminium, N-[4-[[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl][4-(ethylamino)-1-naphthalenyl]methylene]-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-ylidene]-N-methyl-, 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-tridecafluoro-1- hexanesulfonate (1:1) | 1310480-27-3 |
Methanaminium, N-[4-[[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl][4-(phenylamino)-1-naphthalenyl]methylene]-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-ylidene]-N-methyl-, 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-tridecafluoro-1- hexanesulfonate (1:1) | 1310480-28-4 |
Sulfonium, triphenyl-, 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-tridecafluoro-1-hexanesulfonate (1:1) | 13044-10-09 |
Quinolinium, 1-(carboxymethyl)-4-[2-[4- [4-(2,2-diphenylethenyl)phenyl]- 1,2,3,3a,4,8b-hexahydrocyclopent[b]indol-7- yl]ethenyl]-, 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6- tridecafluoro-1-hexanesulfonate (1:1) | 1462414-59-0 |
Iodonium, diphenyl-, 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-tridecafluoro-1-hexanesulfonate (1:1) | 153443-35-7 |
Iodonium, bis[4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenyl]-, 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-tridecafluoro-1-hexanesulfonate (1:1) | 213740-81-9 |
Sulfonium, bis(4-methylphenyl)phenyl-, 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-tridecafluoro-1-hexanesulfonate (1:1) | 341548-85-4 |
Perfluorohexane sulfon amides | Several |
Perfluorohexane sulfon amide | 41997-13-1 |
Perfluorohexane sulfon halides | Several |
Perfluorohexanesulphonyl fluoride | 423-50-7 |
Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and its derivatives | Several |
Perfluorooctane sulphonic acid and its salts | Several |
Diethanolamine perfluorooctane sulfonate | 70225-14-8 |
Ammonium perfluorooctane sulfonate | 29081-56-9 |
Lithium perfluorooctane sulfonate | 29457-72-5 |
Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid | 1763-23-1 |
Perfluorooctane sulfonate | 45298-90-6 |
Potassium heptadecafluoro-octane-1- sulphonate | 2795-39-3 |
Ethanaminium, N,N,N-triethyl-, 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8- heptadecafluoro-1-octanesulfonate (1:1) | 56773-42-3 |
1-Decanaminium, N-decyl-N,N-dimethyl- , 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptadecafluoro-1-octanesulfonate (1:1) | 251099-16-8 |
Perfluorooctane sulfon amides | Several |
Perfluorooctane sulfonamide | 754-91-6 |
Heptadecafluoro-N-methyloctane sulfonamide | 31506-32-8 |
Perfluorooctane sulfon amidoethanols | Several |
Heptadecafluoro-N-methyloctane sulfonamideoethanol | 24448-09-07 |
1-Octanesulfonamide, N-ethyl-1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptadecafluoro- | 4151-50-2 |
1-Octanesulfonamide, N-ethyl-1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptadecafluoro-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)- | 1691-99-2 |
Perfluorooctane sulfon halides | Several |
1-Octanesulfonyl fluoride, 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptadecafluoro- | 307-35-7 |