Candidates for the Next Worldwide Emerging Contaminant: Chlorinated Paraffins?

Bryant, Dan

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/121784 Copy

Description

Title

Candidates for the Next Worldwide Emerging Contaminant: Chlorinated Paraffins?

Author(s)

Bryant, Dan

Issue Date

2023-04-19

Keyword(s)

• PFAS
• chlorinated paraffins

Abstract

The growth in our understanding of the distribution, chemical properties, and toxicity of PFAS has spurred interest in identifying future worldwide emerging contaminants. Among the candidates are chlorinated paraffins (CPs). CPs are linear alkanes in which hydrogen atoms are partially or completely replaced by chlorine. Short-chained CPs (SCCPs; chain length ranging from 10 to 13 carbons and bearing 3 to 12 chlorines) are of greatest interest because of their aqueous solubility. SCCPs are used in lubricants and coolants in metal cutting and forming operations, and as plasticizer and flame-retardant additives to PVC, rubber, paint, coating, and adhesive formulations. CPs have received little regulatory attention, though their long-range transport, environmental persistence, high bioaccumulation potential, and toxicity have generated considerable research interest. Like PCBs and PFAS, the available data indicate SCCP chemical properties are correlated to chain length and degree of chlorination. There are potentially hundreds of congeners. Their analysis is challenged by a lack of standardized methods and widely available instrumentation may not be sufficiently sensitive to achieve toxicity-based detection limits. SCCPs are believed to be carcinogenic. This presentation will introduce this class of compounds and raise awareness for how they may be of concern as a future worldwide emerging contaminant.

Type of Resource

text

Language

eng

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