Poly- and perfluorinated compounds in household consumer products

Abstract

Several household consumer products were analyzed for their content of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOH) by nanoflow ultra performance liquid chromatography – mass spectrometry and gas chromatography – mass spectrometry. Among the investigated products, which are applied as sprays, were impregnating agents, cleaning agents, lubricants, and conditioners. In 14 of the 26 products analyzed, at least one polyfluorinated compound (PFC) was detected in 14 samples. 8 : 2 FTOH was the dominating PFC with concentrations up to 149 µg mL⁻¹. The maximum concentration of PFOA was 14.5 µg mL⁻¹, whereas PFOS was not detected in any sample. Investigated PFCs were mostly found in impregnating agents and lubricants, but were not detected in cleaning agents and conditioners. In FTOH-containing impregnating agents, similar ratios between 6 : 2 FTOH, 8 : 2 FTOH, and 10 : 2 FTOH were found. FTOH proportions in PFC-containing lubricants were similar as well. Total human exposure to PFC from consumer product aerosols for three different scenarios was estimated to be between 42.8 and 464 ng kg⁻¹ per day.

Keywords:

• perfluorooctanoate
• perfluorooctane sulfonate
• fluorotelomer alcohols
• exposure

Acknowledgment

We thank David Trudel, ETH, Zürich, for his support concerning the calculation of PFC exposures.