The precautionary principle and chemicals management: The
example of perfluoroalkyl acids in groundwater

J 2016

The precautionary principle and chemicals management: The example of perfluoroalkyl acids in groundwater

COUSINS, Ian T., Robin VESTERGREN, Zhanyun WANG, Martin SCHERINGER, Michael S. MCLACHLAN et. al.

Basic information

Original name

The precautionary principle and chemicals management: The example of perfluoroalkyl acids in groundwater

Authors

COUSINS, Ian T. (752 Sweden), Robin VESTERGREN (752 Sweden), Zhanyun WANG (756 Switzerland), Martin SCHERINGER (756 Switzerland, guarantor, belonging to the institution) and Michael S. MCLACHLAN (752 Sweden)

Edition

Environment International, OXFORD (ENGLAND), Pergamon Press, 2016, 0160-4120

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

30304 Public and environmental health

Country of publisher

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 7.088

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/16:00093540

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2016.04.044

UT WoS

000382339000036

Keywords in English

PFASs; Drinking water; Precautionary principle; Chemicals management

Abstract

V originále

Already in the late 1990s microgram-per-liter levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were measured in water samples from areas where fire-fighting foams were used or spilled. Despite these early warnings, the problems of groundwater, and thus drinking water, contaminated with perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) including PFOS are only beginning to be addressed. It is clear that this PFAS contamination is poorly reversible and that the societal costs of clean-up will be high. This inability to reverse exposure in a reasonable timeframe is a major motivation for application of the precautionary principle in chemicals management. We conclude that exposure can be poorly reversible; 1) due to slow elimination kinetics in organisms, or 2) due to poorly reversible environmental contamination that leads to continuous exposure. In the second case, which is relevant for contaminated groundwater, the reversibility of exposure is not related to the magnitude of a chemical's bioaccumulation potential. We argue therefore that all PFASs entering groundwater, irrespective of their perfluoroalkyl chain length and bioaccumulation potential, will result in poorly reversible exposures and risks as well as further clean-up costs for society. To protect groundwater resources for future generations, society should consider a precautionary approach to chemicals management and prevent the use and release of highly persistent and mobile chemicals such as PFASs.

Links

EF15_003/0000469, research and development project

Name: Cetocoen Plus

LM2015051, research and development project

Name: Centrum pro výzkum toxických látek v prostředí (Acronym: RECETOX RI)

Investor: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the CR

Citovat

COUSINS, Ian T., Robin VESTERGREN, Zhanyun WANG, Martin SCHERINGER and Michael S. MCLACHLAN. The precautionary principle and chemicals management: The example of perfluoroalkyl acids in groundwater. Environment International. OXFORD (ENGLAND): Pergamon Press, 2016, vol. 94, September, p. 331-340. ISSN 0160-4120. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2016.04.044.

@article{1372509,
   author = {Cousins, Ian T. and Vestergren, Robin and Wang, Zhanyun and Scheringer, Martin and McLachlan, Michael S.},
   article_location = {OXFORD (ENGLAND)},
   article_number = {September},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2016.04.044},
   keywords = {PFASs; Drinking water; Precautionary principle; Chemicals management},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {0160-4120},
   journal = {Environment International},
   title = {The precautionary principle and chemicals management: The example of perfluoroalkyl acids in groundwater},
   url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412016301775},
   volume = {94},
   year = {2016}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1372509
AU  - Cousins, Ian T. - Vestergren, Robin - Wang, Zhanyun - Scheringer, Martin - McLachlan, Michael S.
PY  - 2016
TI  - The precautionary principle and chemicals management: The example of perfluoroalkyl acids in groundwater
JF  - Environment International
VL  - 94
IS  - September
SP  - 331-340
EP  - 331-340
PB  - Pergamon Press
SN  - 01604120
KW  - PFASs
KW  - Drinking water
KW  - Precautionary principle
KW  - Chemicals management
UR  - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412016301775
L2  - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412016301775
N2  - Already in the late 1990s microgram-per-liter levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were measured in water samples from areas where fire-fighting foams were used or spilled. Despite these early warnings, the problems of groundwater, and thus drinking water, contaminated with perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) including PFOS are only beginning to be addressed. It is clear that this PFAS contamination is poorly reversible and that the societal costs of clean-up will be high. This inability to reverse exposure in a reasonable timeframe is a major motivation for application of the precautionary principle in chemicals management. We conclude that exposure can be poorly reversible; 1) due to slow elimination kinetics in organisms, or 2) due to poorly reversible environmental contamination that leads to continuous exposure. In the second case, which is relevant for contaminated groundwater, the reversibility of exposure is not related to the magnitude of a chemical's bioaccumulation potential. We argue therefore that all PFASs entering groundwater, irrespective of their perfluoroalkyl chain length and bioaccumulation potential, will result in poorly reversible exposures and risks as well as further clean-up costs for society. To protect groundwater resources for future generations, society should consider a precautionary approach to chemicals management and prevent the use and release of highly persistent and mobile chemicals such as PFASs.
ER  -

COUSINS, Ian T., Robin VESTERGREN, Zhanyun WANG, Martin SCHERINGER and Michael S. MCLACHLAN. The precautionary principle and chemicals management: The example of perfluoroalkyl acids in groundwater. \textit{Environment International}. OXFORD (ENGLAND): Pergamon Press, 2016, vol.~94, September, p.~331-340. ISSN~0160-4120. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2016.04.044.

Detailed Information on Publication Record