Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
Identifier: CID 74483
URL: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/74483#section=2D-Structure
Fluorocarbon with 8 C-atoms and one sulfonic acid group
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) is a fluorosurfactant with a nonpolar fully fluorinated C-chain and a polar sulfonic group. It is widely used for impregnation of textiles, leather and paper and is a component of polishes, paints, varnishes, cleaning agents and hydraulic fluids used in aerospace industry. Furthermore, it is used in metal working and photochemistry. PFOS was the key ingredient in Scotchgard™ surface protection products produced by 3M. Together with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) it was a major component of the AFFF-fire-fighting foams (aqueous film forming foam).
During production and use PFOS may enter the environment. It is highly persistent and may spread in the environment reaching even remote areas like the Arctic and Antarctica. PFOS has a high potential for bioaccumulation and can magnify in the food web. It is toxic and suspected to be carcinogenic and reproductive toxic. In the aquatic environment, PFOS may cause long-term adverse effects.
Because of these unfavourable properties, the primary producer 3M has declared a voluntarily phase-out in production of PFOS by 2001. Since 2008, the use of PFOS is restricted in the EU, and in 2009 PFOS and its salts as well as perfluorooctanesulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF) were included in Annex B of the Stockholm Convention (restriction of production and usage).
Specimen
-
Common mussel species as invasive animal in rivers and lakes with high information level for water pollution
-
Bioindicator in rivers and lakes
-
Fine insoluble mineral or organic particles in the water phase
-
Common brown alga of the coastal areas of the North and Baltic Sea
-
One of the most important edible mussel species common in the North and Baltic Sea
-
As the only viviparous fish in German nearshore waters, it is a bioindicator in nearshore coastal marine ecosystems.
-
Inshore, the herring gull mainly feeds from the sea: upon fish, mussels, and crabs.
-
A major primary producer in semi-natural and anthropogenic affected ecosystems.
-
A major primary producer in semi-natural and anthropogenic affected ecosystems.
-
A deciduous tree typical of ecosystems close to dense conurbations and an indicator for the characterisation of the immission situation during the vegetation period.
-
As the most dominant deciduous tree species in Central Europe, it plays a significant role in most nearly natural and also anthropogenically influenced forest ecosystems up to an altitude of 1100 m.
-
The roe deer is the most common of the larger herbivores (first order-consumer) to be found in the wild in Europe.
-
As an organism living at ground level, it is a major driver of the decomposition of organic material (e.g. plant litter).
-
As an organism living at ground level, it is a major driver of the decomposition of organic material (e.g. plant litter).
-
Soil is livelihood and biosphere for humans, animals, plants and soil organisms. All the substances brought in are transported, transformed and/or accumulated in the soil.
-
Student groups with an even number of female and male students at the age of 20 to 29.
Sampling area
-
The only high mountains national park in Germany and an area of the Limestone Alps with international relevance
-
Important, old-industrialised conurbation in Germany.
-
Main water divide between the North- and Baltic Sea
-
Longest river in Germany
-
Germany's first national park
-
National Park in the largest brackish water (Bodden) habitat of the world.
-
National park in the world largest connected sand and mud flats.
-
Fourth largest river basin in Central Europe
-
Region in the chemical triangle of Central Germany
-
Germany's largest forest national park
-
Second highest and largest low mountain range in Northern Germany
-
Germany's largest connected forest area in a range of low mountains
-
The Upper Bavarian Tertiary Uplands are a part of the Southern German Molasse Basin
-
Second largest river in Europe
-
4 university cities as sampling areas.
Sampling period
1982 - 2022
Extended information
Links to external information and legislation
Literature
-
Retrospective monitoring of perfluorocarboxylates and perfluorosulfonates in human plasma archived by the German Environmental Specimen Bank
Schröter-Kermani, Christa; Müller, Josef; Jürling, Heinrich; Conrad, André; Schulte, Christoph
International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health 216 (2013), 6, 633-640, 2013