PFAS: Key facts at a glance

scienceindustries' position on PFAS regulation

PFAS are a diverse group of substances with different properties. Many PFAS are already regulated. While some have already been banned and some have been restricted, others are essential for sustainable technologies. scienceindustries is committed to science-based regulation that minimises risk while enabling innovation and technological advances.

A ban is being called for in particular due to concerns about the environmental and health impacts of certain PFAS. It is beyond question that some PFAS have toxic properties and are therefore already regulated or banned. These targeted measures are supported by scienceindustries. However, there are numerous other PFAS, such as fluoropolymers, that are not considered toxic or harmful to the environment, and are crucial to essential industries.

Why a differentiated approach is necessary

While some PFAS exhibit persistent and potentially harmful properties, others are used in safety-critical applications due to their chemical stability and functionality. A blanket ban could have the effect of significantly impairing essential technologies – from medical technology to energy supply.

scienceindustries therefore advocates:

• Targeted regulation of toxic and problematic PFAS with a clear scientific basis.
• Consideration of the technological benefits of PFAS that do not have comparable negative environmental impacts.
• Promotion of realistic alternatives that are actually safe, economically viable and sustainable.

Alternative materials: practice and reality

Although some sources claim that substitutes are available for all PFAS, practice shows a different picture:

• Energy sector: alternative sealing materials for high-voltage equipment show lower temperature resistance and may increase the risk of oil leakage and thus environmental pollution.
• Semiconductor industry: substitutes for fluoropolymers do not meet the extreme purity requirements for production processes, leading to product defects and higher scrap rates.
• Medical technology: Many life-saving devices contain PFAS-coated components for which there are currently no equivalent alternatives.
• Food industry: Non-stick coatings based on fluoropolymers are more durable and environmentally friendly than alternatives that require more frequent replacement and lead to higher resource consumption.

Why sweeping statements are problematic

Reports suggesting that numerous substitutes are available are often based on laboratory studies that do not take into account the real needs of the industry. In many cases, proposed substitutes either lack the necessary performance or bring their own toxicological and environmental challenges.

Furthermore, it is not entirely clear why certain substances are on the substitution lists, even though they themselves are problematic (e.g. trichloroethylene) or are unusable in practice for the intended purpose (e.g. graphite, cannot be used as a lubricant in many areas of the energy sector due to its electric conductivity).

Sustainable regulation instead of hasty bans

Instead of an indiscriminate ban, scienceindustries calls for evidence-based regulation that specifically addresses toxic PFAS without creating unnecessary risks for essential industries and sustainable technologies. This includes:

• Improved recovery and recycling processes for critical PFAS applications.
• Promoting the development of realistic alternatives that are technically and environmentally viable.
• Differentiated assessment of environmental and health risks, instead of blanket regulation of all PFAS.

Conclusion: A solution with a sense of proportion

There is no contradiction between environmental and health protection and the use of safe, sustainable technologies. A science-based approach should specifically regulate toxic and environmentally harmful substances without jeopardising innovation and essential applications.

scienceindustries is committed to finding a balanced and sustainable solution that takes into account both environmental and technological aspects.