Combined Application of the Essential-Use and Functional Substitution Concepts: Accelerating Safer Alternatives

Roy, Monika A.; Cousins, Ian T.; Harriman, Elizabeth; Scheringer, Martin; Tickner, Joel; Wang, Zhanyun

doi:10.1021/acs.est.2c03819

Cited by 10 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…The authors specified their proposal in a further publication and pointed out that this approach is suitable to significantly accelerate risk management of the applications of hazardous substances [37]. The concept of 'functional substitutions' as developed in the USA [38], which assesses function and necessary performance, can be usefully linked with the concept of essential uses [39]. At the same time, it should be noted that trade-offs in performance can be justified.…”

Section: Technical Characteristics and Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

PFAS: forever chemicals—persistent, bioaccumulative and mobile. Reviewing the status and the need for their phase out and remediation of contaminated sites

Brunn

Arnold²,

Körner

et al. 2023

Environ Sci Eur

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Background Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) have received increasing scientific and political attention in recent years. Several thousand commercially produced compounds are used in numerous products and technical processes. Due to their extreme persistence in the environment, humans and all other life forms are, therefore, increasingly exposed to these substances. In the following review, PFAS will be examined comprehensively. Results The best studied PFAS are carboxylic and sulfonic acids with chain lengths of C4 to C14, particularly perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). These substances are harmful to aquatic fauna, insects, and amphibians at concentrations of a few µg/L or less, accumulate in organisms, and biomagnify in food webs. Humans, as the final link in numerous food chains, are subjected to PFAS uptake primarily through food and drinking water. Several PFAS have multiple toxic effects, particularly affecting liver, kidney, thyroid, and the immune system. The latter effect is the basis for the establishment of a tolerable weekly dose of only 4.4 ng/kg body weight for the sum of the four representatives PFOA, PFOS, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2020. Exposure estimates and human biomonitoring show that this value is frequently reached, and in many cases exceeded. PFAS are a major challenge for analysis, especially of products and waste: single-substance analyses capture only a fragment of the large, diverse family of PFAS. As a consequence, sum parameters have gained increasing importance. The high mobility of per and polyfluorinated carboxylic and sulfonic acids makes soil and groundwater pollution at contaminated sites a problem. In general, short-chain PFAS are more mobile than long-chain ones. Processes for soil and groundwater purification and drinking water treatment are often ineffective and expensive. Recycling of PFAS-containing products such as paper and food packaging leads to carryover of the contaminants. Incineration requires high temperatures to completely destroy PFAS. After PFOA, PFOS and a few other perfluorinated carboxylic and sulfonic acids were regulated internationally, many manufacturers and users switched to other PFAS: short-chain representatives, per- and polyfluorinated oxo carboxylic acids, telomeric alcohols and acids. Analytical studies show an increase in environmental concentrations of these chemicals. Ultra-short PFAS (chain length C1–C3) have not been well studied. Among others, trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) is present globally in rapidly increasing concentrations. Conclusions The substitution of individual PFAS recognized as hazardous by other possibly equally hazardous PFAS with virtually unknown chronic toxicity can, therefore, not be a solution. The only answer is a switch to fluorine-free alternatives for all applications in which PFAS are not essential.

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Section: Technical Characteristics and Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

PFAS: forever chemicals—persistent, bioaccumulative and mobile. Reviewing the status and the need for their phase out and remediation of contaminated sites

Brunn

Arnold²,

Körner

et al. 2023

Environ Sci Eur

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“…An integrated method has been developed based on the concepts of essential-use, 18 function substitution 23 and the decision tree suggested by Roy et al (2022). 19 The hazard assessment of alternatives was based on ECHA 24 and OECD 25 guidances. Each step is explained in more detail below.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…23 By combining the essential-use and functional substitution concepts, and thus focussing on both the essentiality, function and performance of substances of concern, a solution-oriented approach is obtained that can help to effectively support the transition to safer and more sustainable chemicals. 19…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Managing PMT/vPvM substances in consumer products through the concepts of essential-use and functional substitution: a case-study for cosmetics

Dijk

Figuière

Dekker

et al. 2023

Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts

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“…If the response to any question is no, then this is not an essential use and the chemical of concern can be substituted, discontinued, or denied approval . Only if the answer to all three questions is yes is this considered an essential use of the chemical.…”

Section: Recommendations For Optimizing the Essential-use Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…If the response to any question is no, then this is not an essential use and the chemical of concern can be substituted, discontinued, or denied approval. 47 Only if the answer to all three questions is yes is this considered an essential use of the chemical. The most efficient approach is to start with the question that can be most easily answered no, as this eliminates the need to ask the other two questions and concludes the process.…”

Section: Recommendations For Optimizing the Essential-use Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimizing Chemicals Management in the United States and Canada through the Essential-Use Approach

Bǎlan

Andrews

Blum

et al. 2023

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Chemicals have improved the functionality and convenience of industrial and consumer products, but sometimes at the expense of human or ecological health. Existing regulatory systems have proven to be inadequate for assessing and managing the tens of thousands of chemicals in commerce. A different approach is urgently needed to minimize ongoing production, use, and exposures to hazardous chemicals. The premise of the essential-use approach is that chemicals of concern should be used only in cases in which their function in specific products is necessary for health, safety, or the functioning of society and when feasible alternatives are unavailable. To optimize the essential-use approach for broader implementation in the United States and Canada, we recommend that governments and businesses (1) identify chemicals of concern for essentiality assessments based on a broad range of hazard traits, going beyond toxicity; (2) expedite decision-making by avoiding unnecessary assessments and strategically asking up to three questions to determine whether the use of the chemical in the product is essential; (3) apply the essential-use approach as early as possible in the process of developing and assessing chemicals; and (4) engage diverse experts in identifying chemical uses and functions, assessing alternatives, and making essentiality determinations and share such information broadly. If optimized and expanded into regulatory systems in the United States and Canada, other policymaking bodies, and businesses, the essential-use approach can improve chemicals management and shift the market toward safer chemistries that benefit human and ecological health.

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Combined Application of the Essential-Use and Functional Substitution Concepts: Accelerating Safer Alternatives

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Cited by 10 publications

References 4 publications

PFAS: forever chemicals—persistent, bioaccumulative and mobile. Reviewing the status and the need for their phase out and remediation of contaminated sites

PFAS: forever chemicals—persistent, bioaccumulative and mobile. Reviewing the status and the need for their phase out and remediation of contaminated sites

Managing PMT/vPvM substances in consumer products through the concepts of essential-use and functional substitution: a case-study for cosmetics

Optimizing Chemicals Management in the United States and Canada through the Essential-Use Approach

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