As a result of the atmospheric degradation of several hydrofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons, trifluoroacetate (TFA) will be formed. Through precipitation, TFA will enter aquatic ecosystems. To evaluate the impact on the aquatic environment, an aquatic toxicity testing program was carried out with sodium trifluoroacetate (NaTFA). During acute toxicity tests, no effects of NaTFA on water fleas (Daphnia magna) and zebra fish (Danio rerio) were found at a concentration of 1,200 mg/L. A 7-d study with duckweed (Lemna gibba G3) revealed a NOEC of 300 mg/L. On the basis of the results of five toxicity tests with Selenastrum capricornutum, we determined a NOEC of 0.12 mg/L. However, algal toxicity tests with NaTFA and Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesmus subspicatus, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Dunaliella tertiolecta, Euglena gracilis, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Navicula pelliculosa, Skeletonema costatum, Anabaena flos-aquae, and Microcystis aeruginosa resulted in EC50 values that were all higher than 100 mg/L. The toxicity of TFA to S. capricornutum could be due to metabolic defluorination to monofluoroacetate (MFA), which is known to inhibit the citric acid cycle. A toxicity test with MFA and S. capricornutum revealed it to be about three orders of magnitude more toxic than TFA. However, a bioactivation study revealed that defluorination of TFA was less than 4%. On the other hand, S. capricornutum exposed to a toxic concentration of NaTFA showed a recovery of growth when citric acid was added, suggesting that TFA (or a metabolite of TFA) interferes with the citric acid cycle. A recovery of the growth of S. capricornutum was also found when TFA was removed from the test solutions. Therefore, TFA should be considered algistatic and not algicidic for S. capricornutum. On the basis of the combined results of the laboratory tests and a previously reported semi-field study, we can consider a TFA concentration of 0.10 mg/L as safe for the aquatic ecosystem.

Abstract-As a result of the atmospheric degradation of several hydrofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons, trifluoroacetate (TFA) will be formed. Through precipitation, TFA will enter aquatic ecosystems. To evaluate the impact on the aquatic environment, an aquatic toxicity testing program was carried out with sodium trifluoroacetate (NaTFA). During acute toxicity tests, no effects of NaTFA on water fleas (Daphnia magna) and zebra fish (Danio rerio) were found at a concentration of 1,200 mg/L. A 7-d study with duckweed (Lemna gibba G3) revealed a NOEC of 300 mg/L. On the basis of the results of five toxicity tests with Selenastrum capricornutum, we determined a NOEC of 0.12 mg/L. However, algal toxicity tests with NaTFA and Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesmus subspicatus, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Dunaliella tertiolecta, Euglena gracilis, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Navicula pelliculosa, Skeletonema costatum, Anabaena flos-aquae, and Microcystis aeruginosa resulted in EC50 values that were all higher than 100 mg/L. The toxicity of TFA to S. capricornutum could be due to metabolic defluorination to monofluoroacetate (MFA), which is known to inhibit the citric acid cycle. A toxicity test with MFA and S. capricornutum revealed it to be about three orders of magnitude more toxic than TFA. However, a bioactivation study revealed that defluorination of TFA was less than 4%. On the other hand, S. capricornutum exposed to a toxic concentration of NaTFA showed a recovery of growth when citric acid was added, suggesting that TFA (or a metabolite of TFA) interferes with the citric acid cycle. A recovery of the growth of S. capricornutum was also found when TFA was removed from the test solutions. Therefore, TFA should be considered algistatic and not algicidic for S. capricornutum. On the basis of the combined results of the laboratory tests and a previously reported semi-field study, we can consider a TFA concentration of 0.10 mg/L as safe for the aquatic ecosystem.

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are used or developed as substitutes for fully halogenated chlorofluorocarbons. Based on the results of closed-bottle tests, the biodegradation of HFC-32, HCFC-123, HCFC-124, HFC-125, HFC-134a, HCFC-141b, HCFC-225ca, and HCFC-225cb was less than 60% after 28 days and therefore these compounds are considered not readily biodegradable. Standard acute toxicity tests with HCFC-123, HCFC-141b, and HCFC-225ca using algae, water fleas, and fish revealed EC50 values in the range of 17-126 mg/L. EC50 values of HFC-134a ranged between 450-980 mg/L. Fish studies with HCFC-141b and HCFC-225ca revealed bioaccumulation factors of <3 and 15-64, respectively. A study with plants revealed no effect of HCFC-141b on seed germination and growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum), radish (Raphanus sativus), and cress (Lepidium sativum). In conclusion, HFCs and HCFCs are not very toxic to aquatic organisms and terrestrial plants. No evidence for any aerobic biodegradation for most of the HFCs and HCFCs was found.

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A comparative study of the photolytic degradation of octachlorodibenzofuran (OCDF) and octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD). Wagenaar, W.J.; Boelhouwers, E.J.; de Kok, H.A.M.; Groen, C.P.; van Houtenlaan, C.J.; Govers, H.A.J.; Olie, K.; de Gerlache, J.; de Rooij, C.G. Published in: Chemosphere DOI:10.1016/0045-6535(95)00158-5 Link to publication Citation for published version (APA):Wagenaar, W. J., Boelhouwers, E. J., de Kok, H. A. M., Groen, C. P., van Houtenlaan, C. J., Govers, H. A. J., ... de Rooij, C. G. (1995). A comparative study of the photolytic degradation of octachlorodibenzofuran (OCDF) and octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD). Chemosphere, 31, 2983-2992. DOI: 10.1016/0045-6535(95)00158-5 General rightsIt is not permitted to download or to forward/distribute the text or part of it without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), other than for strictly personal, individual use, unless the work is under an open content license (like Creative Commons). Disclaimer/Complaints regulationsIf you believe that digital publication of certain material infringes any of your rights or (privacy) interests, please let the Library know, stating your reasons. In case of a legitimate complaint, the Library will make the material inaccessible and/or remove it from the website. Please Ask the Library: http://uba.uva.nl/en/contact, or a letter to: Library of the University of Amsterdam, Secretariat, Singel 425, 1012 WP Amsterdam, The Netherlands. You will be contacted as soon as possible. ABSTRACT Photolysis at 290 nm and higher wavelengths of octachlorodibenzofuran (OCDF) and octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) was studied in three organic solvents hexane, 1,4-dioxane and methanol. It appeared that the degradation kinetics strongly depended on the type of solvent. OCDD degraded fastest in hexane, whereas OCDF degraded fastest in methanol. Less than 5% of the total loss of OCDD degraded by reductive dechlorination, with preferential loss of chlorine atoms at the 1 or 9 positions. 35 to 50% of the total loss of OCDF degraded via reductive dechlorination, with preferential loss of lateral chlorine. OCDF degraded faster than OCDD in all studied solvents.Photolysis at 290 nm and higher wavelengths of OCDD and OCDF adsorbed onto alumina impregnated with copper (alumina/Cu) in the presence of natural and distilled water was also investigated. Under these more relevant environmental aquatic conditions, photolysis of OCDD and OCDF was much slower than photolysis in the studied organic solvents. Significant loss was only found for OCDF. A part of the loss of OCDF could be explained by reductive dechlorination; the results suggested that other mechanisms of degradation occurred in addition to reductive dechlorination.All photolysis experiments showed that OCDF was photochemically less stable than OCDD. INTRODUCTION.In general, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are