Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) registered under REACH—What can we learn from the submitted data and how important will mobility be in PFASs hazard assessment?

Abstract

The EU is planning to restrict the manufacture, placing on the market and use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) as a class. For such a broad regulatory approach, a lot of different data are required, including data on the hazardous properties of PFASs. Here, we analyze substances that fulfill the OECD definition of PFASs and that are registered under the regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) in the EU to obtain a better data basis for PFASs and to elucidate the range of PFASs on the market in the EU. As of September 2021, at least 531 PFASs had been registered under REACH. Our hazard assessment of the PFASs registered under REACH shows that the currently available data are not sufficient to identify those PFASs that are persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) or very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB). Using some basic assumptions – which are 1) PFASs or their metabolites do not mineralize, 2) neutral hydrophobic substances bioaccumulate unless they are metabolized and 3) all chemicals exhibit baseline toxicity, and effect concentrations cannot be above effect concentrations for baseline toxicity – shows that at least 17 of the 177 PFASs with full registration are PBT substances, 14 more than currently identified. Moreover, if mobility is considered as a hazard criterion, at least 19 additional substances will need to be considered hazardous. The regulation of persistent, mobile and toxic (PMT) and very persistent and very mobile (vPvM) substances would therefore also affect PFASs. However, many of the substances that have not been identified as PBT, vPvB, PMT or vPvM are either persistent and toxic, persistent and bioaccumulative or persistent and mobile. The planned PFASs restriction will therefore be important for a more effective regulation of these substances.