Environmental hazards and health risk of common liquid perfluoro-n-alkanes, potent greenhouse gases

Tsai, Wen‐Tien

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2008.08.009

Cited by 34 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Since the early 1990s, these higher molecular weight PFCs have had a relatively minor role as replacements for ozone depleting substances (ODS), which are regulated under the Montreal Protocol (Harvey, 2000). Of which, the most significant emission source of the high molecular weight PFCs are from their use as solvents in electronics and precision cleaning, which was approved under the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program (Air and Radiation Global Programs Division, 2006;Tsai, 2009). There are also small niche markets for C 4 F 10 and C 6 F 14 as fire suppressants (Forte, Jr. et al, 2003;Kopylov, 2002;Tsai, 2009) and C 4 F 10 , C 5 F 12 and C 6 F 14 as refrigerants (ER-JRC/PBL, 2011; Schwaab et al, 2005;Tsai, 2009).…”

Section: Global Warming Potentials (Gwps)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Of which, the most significant emission source of the high molecular weight PFCs are from their use as solvents in electronics and precision cleaning, which was approved under the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program (Air and Radiation Global Programs Division, 2006;Tsai, 2009). There are also small niche markets for C 4 F 10 and C 6 F 14 as fire suppressants (Forte, Jr. et al, 2003;Kopylov, 2002;Tsai, 2009) and C 4 F 10 , C 5 F 12 and C 6 F 14 as refrigerants (ER-JRC/PBL, 2011; Schwaab et al, 2005;Tsai, 2009). Because of the PFCs' large GWPs, emissions of these high molecular weight PFCs as ODS replacements are expected to be decreasing as they are being replaced with lower GWP alternatives (Harvey, 2000;United Nations Environment Programme, 1999).…”

Section: Global Warming Potentials (Gwps)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The PFCs, which are liquid at room temperature, C 5 F 12 -C 8 F 18 are additionally being used in the semiconductor manufacturing industry as heat transfer fluids and in vapor phase reflow soldering (3M Electronics Markets Materials Division, 2003;Tsai, 2009;Tuma and Tousignant, 2001). This emission source is a first-of-a-kind for fluorinated compounds (Tuma and Tousignant, 2001).…”

Section: Global Warming Potentials (Gwps)mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Global emission estimates and radiative impact of C4F10, C5F12, C6F14, C7F16 and C8F18

et al. 2012

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Abstract. Global emission estimates based on new atmospheric observations are presented for the acylic high molecular weight perfluorocarbons (PFCs): decafluorobutane (C4F10), dodecafluoropentane (C5F12), tetradecafluorohexane (C6F14), hexadecafluoroheptane (C7F16) and octadecafluorooctane (C8F18). Emissions are estimated using a 3-dimensional chemical transport model and an inverse method that includes a growth constraint on emissions. The observations used in the inversion are based on newly measured archived air samples that cover a 39-yr period, from 1973 to 2011, and include 36 Northern Hemispheric and 46 Southern Hemispheric samples. The derived emission estimates show that global emission rates were largest in the 1980s and 1990s for C4F10 and C5F12, and in the 1990s for C6F14, C7F16 and C8F18. After a subsequent decline, emissions have remained relatively stable, within 20%, for the last 5 yr. Bottom-up emission estimates are available from the Emission Database for Global Atmospheric Research version 4.2 (EDGARv4.2) for C4F10, C5F12, C6F14 and C7F16, and inventories of C4F10, C5F12 and C6F14 are reported to the United Nations' Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) by Annex 1 countries that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol. The atmospheric measurement-based emission estimates are 20 times larger than EDGARv4.2 for C4F10 and over three orders of magnitude larger for C5F12 (with 2008 EDGARv4.2 estimates for C5F12 at 9.6 kg yr−1, as compared to 67±53 t yr−1 as derived in this study). The derived emission estimates for C6F14 largely agree with the bottom-up estimates from EDGARv4.2. Moreover, the C7F16 emission estimates are comparable to those of EDGARv4.2 at their peak in the 1990s, albeit significant underestimation for the other time periods. There are no bottom-up emission estimates for C8F18, thus the emission rates reported here are the first for C8F18. The reported inventories for C4F10, C5F12 and C6F14 to UNFCCC are five to ten times lower than those estimated in this study. In addition, we present measured infrared absorption spectra for C7F16 and C8F18, and estimate their radiative efficiencies and global warming potentials (GWPs). We find that C8F18's radiative efficiency is similar to trifluoromethyl sulfur pentafluoride's (SF5F3) at 0.57 W m−2 ppb−1, which is the highest radiative efficiency of any measured atmospheric species. Using the 100-yr time horizon GWPs, the total radiative impact of the high molecular weight perfluorocarbons emissions are also estimated; we find the high molecular weight PFCs peak contribution was in 1997 at 24 000 Gg of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents and has decreased by a factor of three to 7300 Gg of CO2 equivalents in 2010. This 2010 cumulative emission rate for the high molecular weight PFCs is comparable to: 0.02% of the total CO2 emissions, 0.81% of the total hydrofluorocarbon emissions, or 1.07% of the total chlorofluorocarbon emissions projected for 2010 (Velders et al., 2009). In terms of the total PFC emission budget, including the lower molecular weight PFCs, the high molecular weight PFCs peak contribution was also in 1997 at 15.4% and was 6% of the total PFC emissions in CO2 equivalents in 2009.

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Section: Global Warming Potentials (Gwps)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Global Warming Potentials (Gwps)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Global Warming Potentials (Gwps)mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Global emission estimates and radiative impact of C4F10, C5F12, C6F14, C7F16 and C8F18

et al. 2012

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“…Furthermore, a recent study has shown that fluorine-containing ski waxes may also contain traces of perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs), and increased blood levels of a range of PFCAs in the blood of professional ski waxers have been detected (Freberg et al, 2010). Information on toxicological effects of PFAs is in general not yet well documented, but several studies have addressed concerns about perfluorinated compounds and human health hazards (Lau et al, 2007;Tsai, 2009;Environment Canada 2012;Borg et al, 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occupational Exposure Assessment of Airborne Chemical Contaminants Among Professional Ski Waxers

Freberg

Olsen

Daae

et al. 2014

The Annals of Occupational Hygiene

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Background: Ski waxes are applied onto the skis to improve the performance. They contain different chemical substances, e.g. perfluoro-n-alkanes. Due to evaporation and sublimation processes as well as mechanically generated dust, vapours, fumes, and particulates can contaminate the workroom atmosphere. The number of professional ski waxers is increasing, but occupational exposure assessments among professional ski waxers are lacking.Objectives: The aim was to assess exposure to airborne chemical contaminants among professional ski waxers. It was also a goal to construct a ventilation system designed for ski waxing work operations.Methods: Forty-five professional ski waxers were included. Personal measurements of the inhalable and the respirable aerosol mass fractions were executed in 36 different waxing cabins using Conical Inhalable Sampler cassettes equipped with 37-mm PVC filters (5 µm) and Casella respirable cyclones equipped with 37-mm PVC filters (0.8 µm), respectively. Volatile organic components were collected using Anasorb CSC charcoal tubes. To examine time trends in exposure patterns, stationary real-time measurements of the aerosol mass fractions were conducted using a direct-reading Respicon® sampler. Results: Mean aerosol particle mass concentrations of 3.1 mg·m −3 (range: 0.2-12.0) and 6.2 mg·m

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“…their usage as refrigerants, solvents, fire suppressants and foam blowing agents; they were initially suggested as replacements for ozone depleting substances (ODS) that are regulated under the Montreal Protocol (UNEP Technology and Economic Assessment Panel, 1999;Tsai, 2009). Moreover, C 5 F 12 -C 8 F 18 (liquids at room temperature), have a first-of-a-kind emission source for fluorinated compounds from their use as heat transfer fluids in the semiconductor industry (where previously deionized water and a mixture of glycol and deionized water were used) (Tsai, 2009;Tuma and Tousignant, 2001). The main sink for the PFCs is photolysis by Lyman-α radiation and a minor destruction pathway is reaction with O( 1 D) (Ravishankara et al, 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Atmospheric histories and growth trends of C4F10, C5F12, C6F14, C7F16 and C8F18

Ivy¹,

Arnold²,

Harth³

et al. 2012

Preprint

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The first atmospheric observations and trends are presented for the high molecular weight perfluorocarbons (PFCs): decafluorobutane (C₄F₁₀), dodecafluoropentane (C₅F₁₂), tetradecafluorohexane (C₆F₁₄), hexadecafluoroheptane (C₇F₁₆) and octadecafluorooctane (C₈F₁₈). Their atmospheric histories are based on measurements of 38 Northern Hemisphere and 46 Southern Hemisphere archived air samples collected between 1973 to 2011 using the Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment (AGAGE) "Medusa" preconcentration gas chromatography-mass spectrometry systems. A new calibration scale was prepared for each PFC, with estimated accuracies of 6.8% for C₄F₁₀, 7.8% for C₅F₁₂, 4.0% for C₆F₁₄, 6.6% for C₇F₁₆ and 7.9% for C₈F₁₈. Based on our observations the 2011 globally averaged dry air mole fractions of these heavy PFCs are: 0.18 parts-per-trillion (ppt, i.e., parts per 10¹²) for C₄F₁₀, 0.12 ppt for C₅F₁₂, 0.28 ppt for C₆F₁₄, 0.12 ppt for C₇F₁₆ and 0.09 ppt for C₈F₁₈. These atmospheric mole fractions combine to contribute to a global average radiative forcing of 0.35 mW m⁻², which is 3.6% of the total PFC radiative forcing. The globally averaged mean atmospheric growth rates of these PFCs during 1973–2011 are 4.58 parts per quadrillion (ppq, i.e., parts per 10¹⁵) per year (yr) for C₄F₁₀, 3.29 ppq yr⁻¹ for C₅F₁₂, 7.50 ppq yr⁻¹ for C₆F₁₄, 3.19 ppq yr⁻¹ for C₇F₁₆ and 2.51 ppq yr⁻¹ for C₈F₁₈. The growth rates of the heavy perfluorocarbons were largest in the early 1990s for C₄F₁₀ and C₅F₁₂ and in the mid-to-late 1990s for C₆F₁₄, C₇F₁₆ and C₈F₁₈. The more recent slow down in the growth rates of the high molecular weight PFCs suggests that emissions are declining as compared to the 1980s and 1990s. Nevertheless continued monitoring of these potent, extremely long-lived greenhouse gases is necessary to verify that global PFC emissions continue to decline

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Environmental hazards and health risk of common liquid perfluoro-n-alkanes, potent greenhouse gases

Cited by 34 publications

References 39 publications

Global emission estimates and radiative impact of C<sub>4</sub>F<sub>10</sub>, C<sub>5</sub>F<sub>12</sub>, C<sub>6</sub>F<sub>14</sub>, C<sub>7</sub>F<sub>16</sub> and C<sub>8</sub>F<sub>18</sub>

Global emission estimates and radiative impact of C<sub>4</sub>F<sub>10</sub>, C<sub>5</sub>F<sub>12</sub>, C<sub>6</sub>F<sub>14</sub>, C<sub>7</sub>F<sub>16</sub> and C<sub>8</sub>F<sub>18</sub>

Occupational Exposure Assessment of Airborne Chemical Contaminants Among Professional Ski Waxers

Atmospheric histories and growth trends of C<sub>4</sub>F<sub>10</sub>, C<sub>5</sub>F<sub>12</sub>, C<sub>6</sub>F<sub>14</sub>, C<sub>7</sub>F<sub>16</sub> and C<sub>8</sub>F<sub>18</sub>

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