Interview PFOS phaseout pays off
THE AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS
the University of Toronto. “This is really solid data that clearly demonstrates PFOS has declined sigdonors at six American Red Cross nificantly, while PFOA levels have 3M Corp.’s voluntary phaseout of centers around the country. For not,” he says, noting that other products based on perfluorooctane each location, they analyzed 100 companies (in the U.S., most nosulfonate (PFOS) chemistry, ansamples that were evenly distributtably DuPont) waited until 2005 nounced in 2000, is already paying ed by age and gender. The perfluoto agree to reduce and eventually off, according to research in ES&T rinated chemicals they measured eliminate PFOA and chemicals (pp 4989–4995). The new study, by included PFOS and PFOA. that can break down to PFOA and 3M researchers, finds that PFOS The decline occurs across the other perfluorinated carboxylates. levels in U.S. adult blood donors board, Olsen says. “We see the Previous studies that identihave dropped by almost 60% from same percent decline no matter fied a decline in PFOS had found 2000 to 2006. Levels of perfluorooca comparable decline in tanoic acid (PFOA) also PFOA. “Our consumer declined by 25%. lifestyle means that the 3M announced that it pathways for exposure to would begin phasing out any perfluorinated chemthe production of PFOS ical—from the PFOS or and related chemicals PFOA family—were simiin 2000, after PFOS was lar. But now we can clearfound in human populaly see that impact of 3M’s tions and in wildlife. At actions and others’ inacthe time, these chemicals tion,” says Mabury. were used in consumer Toxicologist Kurunand industrial products thachalam Kannan at the such as surfactants; inState University of New secticides; and protective New research shows that PFOS levels in U.S. blood donors York Albany and colcoatings for paper, texhave dropped by almost 60% in 7 years. leagues also see substantiles, carpets, and clothtial drops in PFOS and ing. In 2000, 3M also where you are looking in our six PFOA in analyses of blood spots stopped manufacturing PFOA, different communities,” he excollected from human newborns in but other companies continued to plains. “The decline is also uniNew York State. A paper describing make PFOA as well as other chemiform regardless of age and sex.” these results, by Henry Spliethoff cals that break down to PFOA. The The research also provides imof the New York State Department toxicology of PFOS, PFOA, and portant clues about the sources of of Health’s Wadsworth Center, will other perfluorinated chemicals is perfluorinated chemicals to hube published soon in ES&T. still being studied, but animal data mans, scientists say. The rapid and Despite the declines in the U.S., suggest that exposure has effects uniform decline indicates that the the authors note that PFOS levels on the liver and on fetal developsource is the consumer products appear to be up in blood taken ment and may cause cancer. A rethat we all use, Martin explains. from Chinese citizens. It is thought cent study also found that PFOS Consumer products have never that PFOS is still manufactured exerts immune-system effects at contained significant amounts of in China. “We don’t know what, if environmentally relevant doses in PFOS or PFOA, but the precursors, anything, this means for the rest of laboratory rats. or chemicals that find their way the world or for wildlife,” remarks “This is great news,” says Jon into products either intentionally Martin. Nor can this work be used Martin, an environmental and anor by accident, can be metabolized to predict the future, says Olsen. “It alytical chemist at the University to form PFOS or PFOA. This paper is crucial that monitoring programs of Alberta (Canada). “In American supports the theory that the expolike the Centers for Disease Control blood samples, which were once sure comes from the precursors, and Prevention’s NHANES work the most highly contaminated . . . Martin adds. continue,” he states, referring to in the world, levels are declining Olsen and colleagues’ study is the National Health and Nutrition rapidly,” he comments. the first to demonstrate that trends Examination Survey, the largest In the paper, scientists Geary in PFOS and PFOA levels in human national source of objectively meaOlsen and colleagues from 3M’s sured health and nutrition data. medical department analyzed blood in Americans are diverging, —REBECCA RENNER blood plasma samples taken from notes chemist Scott Mabury at
4618 ■ Environmental Science & Technology / July 1, 2008
© 2008 American Chemical Society
