The Madrid Statement on Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs)

1As scientists and other professionals from a variety of disciplines, we are concerned about the production and release into the environment of an increasing number of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) for the following reasons:

2PFASs are man-made and found everywhere. PFASs are highly persistent, as they contain perfluorinated chains that only degrade very slowly, if at all, under environmental conditions. It is documented that some polyfluorinated chemicals break down to form perfluorinated ones.

3PFASs are found in the indoor and outdoor environments, wildlife, and human tissue and bodily fluids all over the globe. They are emitted via industrial processes and military and firefighting operations, and they migrate out of consumer products into air, household dust, food, soil, ground and surface water, and make their way into drinking water.

4In animal studies, some long-chain PFASs have been found to cause liver toxicity, disruption of lipid metabolism and the immune and endocrine systems, adverse neurobehavioral effects, neonatal toxicity and death, and tumors in multiple organ systems. In the growing body of epidemiological evidence, some of these effects are supported by significant or suggestive associations between specific long-chain PFASs and adverse outcomes, including associations with testicular and kidney cancers, liver malfunction, hypothyroidism, high cholesterol, ulcerative colitis, lower birth weight and size, obesity, decreased immune response to vaccines, and reduced hormone levels and delayed puberty.

5Due to their high persistence, global distribution, bioaccumulation potential, and toxicity, some PFASs have been listed under the Stockholm Convention as persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

6As documented in the Helsingør Statement,

7Although some of the long-chain PFASs are being regulated or phased out, the most common replacements are short-chain PFASs with similar structures, or compounds with fluorinated segments joined by ether linkages.

8While some shorter-chain fluorinated alternatives seem to be less bioaccumulative, they are still as environmentally persistent as long-chain substances or have persistent degradation products. Thus, a switch to short-chain and other fluorinated alternatives may not reduce the amounts of PFASs in the environment. In addition, because some of the shorter-chain PFASs are less effective, larger quantities may be needed to provide the same performance.

9While many fluorinated alternatives are being marketed, little information is publicly available on their chemical structures, properties, uses, and toxicological profiles.

10Increasing use of fluorinated alternatives will lead to increasing levels of stable perfluorinated degradation products in the environment, and possibly also in biota and humans. This would increase the risks of adverse effects on human health and the environment.

11Initial efforts to estimate overall emissions of PFASs into the environment have been limited due to uncertainties related to product formulations, quantities of production, production locations, efficiency of emission controls, and long-term trends in production history.

12The technical capacity to destroy PFASs is currently insufficient in many parts of the world.

13Global action through the Montreal Protocol successfully reduced the use of the highly persistent ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), thus allowing for the recovery of the ozone layer. However, many of the organofluorine replacements for CFCs are still of concern due to their high global warming potential. It is essential to learn from such past efforts and take measures at the international level to reduce the use of PFASs in products and prevent their replacement with fluorinated alternatives in order to avoid long-term harm to human health and the environment.

14For these reasons, we call on the international community to cooperate in limiting the production and use of PFASs and in developing safer nonfluorinated alternatives. We therefore urge scientists, governments, chemical and product manufacturers, purchasing organizations, retailers, and consumers to take the following actions:

15Assemble, in collaboration with industry and governments, a global inventory of all PFASs in use or in the environment, including precursors and degradation products, and their functionality, properties, and toxicology.

16Develop analytical methods for the identification and quantification of additional families of PFASs, including fluorinated alternatives.

17Continue monitoring for legacy PFASs in different matrices and for environmental reservoirs of PFASs.

18Continue investigating the mechanisms of toxicity and exposure (e.g., sources, fate, transport, and bioaccumulation of PFASs), and improve methods for testing the safety of alternatives.

19Bring research results to the attention of policy makers, industry, the media, and the public.

20Enact legislation to require only essential uses of PFASs, and enforce labeling to indicate uses.

21Require manufacturers of PFASs to

22conduct more extensive toxicological testing,

23make chemical structures public,

24provide validated analytical methods for detection of PFASs, and

25assume extended producer responsibility and implement safe disposal of products and stockpiles containing PFASs.

26Work with industry to develop public registries of products containing PFASs.

27Make public annual statistical data on production, imports, and exports of PFASs.

28Whenever possible, avoid products containing, or manufactured using, PFASs in government procurement.

29In collaboration with industry, ensure that an infrastructure is in place to safely transport, dispose of, and destroy PFASs and PFAS-containing products, and enforce these measures.

30Make data on PFASs publicly available, including chemical structures, properties, and toxicology.

31Provide scientists with standard samples of PFASs, including precursors and degradation products, to enable environmental monitoring of PFASs.

32Work with scientists and governments to develop safe disposal methods for PFASs.

33Provide the supply chain with documentation on PFAS content and safe disposal guidelines.

34Develop nonfluorinated alternatives that are neither persistent nor toxic.

35Stop using PFASs where they are not essential or when safer alternatives exist.

36Develop inexpensive and sensitive PFAS quantification methods for compliance testing.

37Label products containing PFASs, including chemical identity and safe disposal guidelines.

38Invest in the development and use of nonfluorinated alternatives.

39Whenever possible, avoid products containing, or manufactured using, PFASs. These include many products that are stain-resistant, waterproof, or nonstick.

40Question the use of such fluorinated “performance” chemicals added to consumer products.