Analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in outdoor wear

Research output: PhD ThesisPhD-Thesis - Research and graduation internal

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Abstract

Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) are a class of man-made chemicals, which consist of a fluorinated carbon back bone and a functional group like a carboxylic acid, sulfonic acid, alcohol, etc. In outdoor wear side-chain fluorinated polymers (SFPs), which consist of polymers such as polyurethanes or acrylates with PFASs as side-chains, are used to obtain the required water and dirt repellence. In outdoor wear PFASs are present as impurities and as unreacted products of the production process of those SFPs. The study described in this thesis focused on PFASs present in textiles of outdoor wear. A method was first developed, optimized and validated for the analyses of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) (C4-C14), and perfluoroalkane sulfonic acids (PFSAs) (C4, C6, C7, C8) in textiles. Extraction solvents, extraction duration and number of sequential extractions were optimized. The use of some PFASs has been restricted, and the regulation of more PFASs compounds is ongoing. The determine whether PFASs concentrations meet the safety standards, there is a need for reliable analytical methods. To avoid that reported concentrations are dependent on the quality of the analysis laboratory, an interlaboratory assessment was organized to assess the overall performance of laboratories worldwide. Participants could report PFAS concentrations in a test solution of the target compounds, and in six matrices (sediment, fish, human milk, human plasma, air extract, and water). The effects of weathering on PFASs from outdoor wear were assessed on thirteen commercial available textile samples with an SFP-based durable water repellent (DWR) coating. The concentrations of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and volatile PFASs in the textiles were determined. After weathering (exposure to elevated ultra violet (UV) radiation, humidity and temperature) of the thirteen textile samples in an aging device for 300h, the samples were again analysed for their PFAS concentrations. Weathering did effect the PFAS concentrations and the PFAS profiles in the DWR coated textiles, and some PFAAs which were not detected in the textiles before aging were detected in same textiles after weathering. To determine the fate of PFASs from DWR coated outdoor clothing during use, the effects of aging, washing and tumble drying on extractable PFASs concentrations and profiles in DWR coated textiles were assessed. Two types of fabrics, polyamide (PA) and polyester (PES), which were each coated with perfluorohexane-based short-chain SFPs (FC-6 chemistry) and perfluorooctane-based long-chain SFP (FC-8 chemistry) were aged in an aging device, followed by ten sequential washing and tumble drying cycles. In addition the FC-6 chemistry coated PA fabric was washed and tumble dried without aging. The concentration of extractable PFAAs increased due to aging as was seen before on the commercial textiles. The effect of aging on the volatile PFASs was dependent of the type of fabric. Extractable PFAA concentrations decreased after washing. Washing in general, caused the volatile PFASs to be partly washed out of the textiles, but washing also appeared to be increasing the volatile PFASs concentration in fabrics. With a combination of aging and washing this effect became stronger. There was no effect of tumble drying on the extractable PFASs concentrations in textiles observed. With the study described it has been shown that performing a reliable PFAS analysis remains a challenge. It has also been shown that PFASs from outdoor wear coated with DWR based on SFPs can be released, and emitted to the environment during use, under certain weather conditions, and also during washing. Since extractable PFASs concentrations increased, it has been shown that legislation and setting safety standards for only some individual PFASs is not enough to protect the environment. Also replacing one PFAS congener with another PFAS congener should be avoided.
Original languageEnglish
QualificationPhD
Awarding Institution
  • Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Supervisors/Advisors
  • de Boer, Jacob, Supervisor
  • Leonards, PEG, Supervisor
  • Weiss, Jana, Co-supervisor, -
Award date10 Mar 2022
Place of Publications.l.
Publisher
Print ISBNs9789090357768
Publication statusPublished - 10 Mar 2022

Keywords

  • PFAS
  • Outdoor Wear
  • Weathering
  • aging
  • washing
  • tumble drying
  • durable water repellence
  • interlaboratory comparison study
  • fabrics
  • fate

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