Things to know about PFAS.
The PFAS family covers over 4,700 substances of per- and polyfluorinated compounds.
Many substances within the PFAS family are classified as PBTs (persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic) or at least of concern.
Problem of substances of concern: Many of the substances in the PFAS family are harmful to health (carcinogens, genetic damage, infertility, childhood caries, etc.).
Analytical procedures are complex and demanding.
Problems of analytical experience for the determination of fluorine substances AOF / TOF / TOP ASSAY / Dark Matter (not every method leads to the goal).
Mobility usually occurs via penetration through the soil into drinking water resources or, in the case of destabilised chains (volatile substances), via the air.
Regarding the carrying capacity (LRTP = long range transport potential), it should be said that samples taken from polar bears (in the sphere of action far beyond human civilisation) with alarmingly high fluorine levels in the blood and liver/kidneys have shaken up the experts.
The half-life of PFAS substances in the bioorganism can be 3-5 years for the long-chain substances. By then, half of the toxins have been degraded. With the shorter chains, the half-life in the body is still up to several months.
PFASs are called "eternal chemicals" because they virtually do not degrade.
In general, fluorine substances develop a high mobility. In particular, C6 chemistry is much more mobile, which allows them to pass more quickly through layers of soil into drinking water sources.
The term "fluorine-free" has not been defined to date. In the manufacture of "fluorine-free fire extinguishers" we use the term as follows: Without deliberate addition of fluorine-containing, performance-enhancing surfactants in the extinguishing foam or aqueous extinguishing agents.
