A Proposed approach to defining per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) based on molecular structure and formula
By Linda G T Gaines, Gabriel Sinclair, and Antony J Williams
Integr Environ Assess Manag
January 11, 2023
DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4735
Various groups and researchers, including the authors of this work, have proposed different definitions of what constitutes per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The different definitions are all based on a structural definition. While a structural definition is reasonable, such an approach is difficult to execute if the intent is to narrow or refine the definition. This approach can also lead to inexplicable demarcations of what is and is not PFAS. Our objective was to create a narrow, simple PFAS definition that allows interested groups to communicate with a common understanding and will also serve as a starting point to focus on substances that are a real concern from an environmental perspective. Our studies have shown that numerous highly fluorinated complex structures exist that make a structure-based definition difficult. We suggest that a definition based on fractional fluorination expressed as the percent fluorine of a molecular formula using atom counting offers advantages. Using a combination of a structure-based definition and a definition based on the fractional percentage of the molecular formula that is fluorine can provide a more inclusive and succinct definition. Thus, we propose a new definition based on four substructures along with any structures where the molecular formula is 30% fluorine by atom count. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;00:0-0. © 2023 SETAC.
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