Norwegian Study Identifies PFBS Uses and Risks

Norway's Environment Agency has conducted a study on uses of perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) and related substances and their risks in the European Economic Area (EEA).

PFBS and related substances are short-chain perfluoroalkyl substances mainly used as surfactants and repellents. Additional applications include: flame retardants, metal plating and pesticides.

According to the study there are many related substances in use. They are produced with perfluorobutane sulfonyl fluoride (PBSF) as the starting material.

This is registered as an intermediate under REACH, and quantitative information about consumption is "deficient" in registration dossiers.

Basic PFBS is not registered under REACH and has limited applications. And, the study says, little information on the use of PFBS-related substances is available.

The study identified 16 PFBS-related substances with confirmed use. The total content of PFBS moieties of mixtures is estimated at 28-77 tonnes/year.

The substances are widely used in the EU, the study says, with the total volume of PFBS-related substances registered under REACH at 22-210+ tonnes/year. Many of the substances are notified by more than 100 companies.

The study says consumers may be exposed to PFBS-based substances through:

impregnation of outdoor clothes, shoes and carpets with repellent protection products;

spray application of agents for protection of stone and tile or spray application of paints containing PFBS-based surfactants;

use of PFBS-impregnated clothing items from weathering and releases of impurities;

infants and toddlers may be exposed by sucking on impregnated fabrics;

storage of newly impregnated clothes and shows in shops and at home; and

repellent agents used in tile and stone floors indoors may result in dermal exposure.

Use in surfactants in paints and inks is considered to result only in insignificant direct consumer exposure, but could constitute a long-term problem as regards contamination of the environment.