Substance flow analysis for Switzerland

Year	2009
Pages	144
Number	UW-0922-E
Publisher	Federal Office for the Environment FOEN

Perfluorinated surfactants perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)

A substance flow analysis was carried out for the perfluorinated surfactants perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) for Switzerland for the year 2007. Both substances are chemicals with several unique properties making them beneficial for many applications on one hand, but on the other hand pollutants that are persistent in the environment. The use of PFOS has been restricted in the EU, whereas the industry has agreed to reduce the residual contents of PFOA in products. The substance flow analysis serves a valuable base for the definition of risk reduction measures. The results will also allow the control of the efficiency of measures taken in the future. 

Substance flow analysis for Switzerland (PDF, 1 MB, 03.12.2009)