AFF and the environment:
Published: 01 January, 2007
Since 2000 and 3M’s announcement to phase out its PFOS-based fluorochemicals business, every year has brought its load of bad news over the fate of this peculiar class of compounds. But let’s get back to the past six years.
- 2000: The EPA points out that PFOS and related materials are Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic (PBT). 3M voluntarily stops its manufacturing. PFOS has been proven to be Persistent and Bioaccumulative worldwide, and has been measured in most living organisms, including humans.
- 2001: Most foam manufacturers claim that they are not concerned about PFOS because the fluorochemicals they use are telomer-based products which are safe.
- 2002: The EPA raises concerns over PFOA, a telomer-based chemical which is largely used in industry. PFOA is found in rivers and in fish liver. PFOS is no longer of interest because it is no longer available on the market.
- 2003: PFOA is found in human blood, and classified as carcinogenic in animals. Members of the foam industry claimed - again - that they were not concerned because they had stopped using PFOA and had changed to a similar product based on 6 perfluorinated carbons, which would degrade to PFHxA, not PFOA.
- 2004: The 6:2 FtS (H-PFOS) fluorotelomer used in foams is found in groundwater; this 6:2 FtS is structurally similar to PFOS.
- 2005: Studies conclude that all perfluoro-chemicals are not degraded in water treatment facilities, but they end up in water and in sludge.
- 2006: PFHxA is found at significant level in breast milk in Germany. German politicians press for a ban on all fluorochemicals. EU decides to ban PFOS, but does not take into account telomer-based surfactants in the proposed Directive, although firefighting foams are included. This clearly indicates that the breastmilk scandal has not yet been addressed correctly.
Why there is concern
Whatever the perfluorochemicals, you will find that it is Very Persistent, BioAccumulative, and potentially Toxic. In spite of this, most foam manufacturers claim that they are not concerned, even after becoming aware of the results of numerous scientific studies.
Let us now present what is known nowadays of the fate of PerFluoroSurfactants used in firefighting foams after they have been released to the environment:
BIO-EX has been concerned by this potential tragedy since it was revealed by the scientific community, and has invested considerable work in developing fluorine-free alternatives.
In 2000, BIO-EX launched a product BIO FOR, dedicated to fighting forest fires, but also suitable for urban fires, in order to offer an eco-friendly alternative for fire brigades facing everyday fires.
In 2003, BIO-EX launched ECOPOL, an AR product, fully approved to EN Standard 1568, for fighting liquid fires. With these two products, BIO-EX has provided fluorine-free alternatives to a large part of industry.
In recent years, BIO FOR and ECOPOL have been tested extensively by a large number of industrial companies and fire brigades, and have proven successful in many real fire situations in Europe.
We are all concerned by the presence of perfluorochemicals, a class of substances that are environmentally extremely persistent and widely dispersed. Our blood is contaminated and women feed our babies with poisoned milk. We all bear the responsibility for deciding to stop this - now.
