United Nations Stockholm Conve n tion To eliminate the use of PFAS, at COP-4 in 2009, the Conference of the Parties decided to list perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF) the Stockholm Convention. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts are also restricted. PFHxS and its salts were added to Stockholm convention in 2022. PFOS, its salts and derivatives as well as PFOA, its salts and PFOA-related compounds are banned under the EU Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation. POPs regulation will potentially be updated to include long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCA's) (C9-C21), their salts and related compounds. [ 22 ] The European Commission and the member states have committed to phase out all PFAS, allowing their use only where alternatives cannot be used. PFOS and their derivatives are included as a priority hazardous substance under the EU Water Framework Directive (EU, 2013), with a much lower Environmental Quality Standard (AA-EQS) limit value of 0.65 ng/L (0.00065 µg/L) in inland surface waters and 0.13 ng/L in seawater. The majority of PFAS are industrial and consumer chemicals that are regulated under REACH regulation in the EU. According to a document by the Environment Agency, UK (2021) the UK has retained REACH in national legislation following withdrawal from the EU, but it will take several years for UK registration to be completed. [11] Drinking Water Directive The review of the Drinking Water Directive, which took effect in 2021, includes a limit of 0.5 µg/L for all PFAS and 0.1 µg/L for the sum of 20 individual PFAS. This is in line with a grouping approach for all PFASs. Several other PFASs are on the REACH Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHC). By January 2026, EU Member States shall take the measures necessary to ensure that water intended for human consumption complies with the parametric values set out in Part B of Annex I of the revised Drinking water directive, including Total PFAS (as defined in the directive) and the sum of PFAS. The Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability of the European Commission sets out a range of actions to regulate PFAS as a group [12]. In April 2024, EPA announced the final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six PFAS. Public water systems must monitor for these PFAS and have three years to complete initial monitoring (by 2027), followed by ongoing compliance monitoring. Water systems must also provide the public with information on the levels of these PFAS in their drinking water beginning in 2027. [13] The ban of some commonly used long-chain PFAS has led scientists and the industry to find alternatives with shorter chain PFAS. Several of these alternatives are now under regulatory scrutiny in the REACH Regulation as they might still, pose a risk for the environment and health.
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www.lgcstandards.com/AXIO
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