title: Degradation of Fluorotelomer-Based Polymers Contributes to the Global Occurrence of Fluorotelomer Alcohol and Perfluoroalkyl Carboxylates: A Combined Dynamic Substance Flow and Environmental Fate Modeling Analysis.
abstract: Using coupled dynamic substance flow and environmental fate models, CiP-CAFE and BETR-Global, we investigated whether the degradation of side-chain fluorotelomer-based polymers (FTPs), mostly in waste stocks (i.e., landfills and dumps), serves as a long-term source of fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) and perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs) to the global environment. The modeling results indicate that, in the wake of the worldwide transition from long-chain to short-chain products, in-use stocks of C8 FTPs will peak and decline afterward, while the in-use stocks of C6 FTPs, and the waste stocks of both FTPs will generally grow. FTP degradation in waste stocks is making an increasing contribution to FTOH generation, the bulk of which readily migrates from waste stocks and degrades into PFCAs in the environment; the remaining part of the generated FTOHs degrade in waste stocks, which makes those stocks reservoirs that slowly release PFCAs into the environment over the long run because of the low leaching rate and extreme persistence of PFCAs. Short-chain FTPs have higher relative release rates of PFCAs from waste stocks than long-chain ones. Estimates of in-use and waste stocks of FTPs were more sensitive to the selected lifespan of finished products, while those of the emissions of FTOHs and PFCAs were more sensitive to the degradation half-life of FTPs in waste stocks. Our preliminary calculations highlight the need for environmentally sound management of obsolete FTP-containing products into the foreseeable future.
authors.affiliation: College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University , 5 Yiheyuan Road, Beijing 100871, PR China.|Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough , 1095 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada.
authors.forename: Li
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5157-7366
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University , 5 Yiheyuan Road, Beijing 100871, PR China.
authors.forename: Jianguo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University , 5 Yiheyuan Road, Beijing 100871, PR China.
authors.forename: Jianxin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough , 1095 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3836-0901
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wania
mesh_terms: D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D000431:Ethanol; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D006207:Half-Life; D011108:Polymers
chemical_list: D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D011108:Polymers; D000431:Ethanol