BACKGROUND

• Main Authors: Francisco Bay Seals, Sample Analysis, Due Date
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arctic
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.192.1082; http://www.sfei.org/rmp/contam_fate_meetings/1-15-08/12%20-%20Example%20Proposal%20Format.pdf

In the last 50 years, fluorinated alkyl substances have been used extensively in a variety of commercially available products including fire-fighting foams, refrigerants, stain repellants in textiles, and coatings for paper used in contact with food products. Their popularity in commercial and industrial applications results from their unique ability to be both hydrophobic and oleophobic, that is able repel both water and oil. Fluorinated alkyl substances are synthesized from perfluornated sulfonyl fluoride and carbonyl fluoride intermediates by electrochemical fluorination process (ECF) or telomerization fluorination processes. Because these processes are not selective, numerous by-products are produced in the manufacture of these intermediates such as perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). As a result of their chemical stability and widespread use, fluorinated alkyl substances such as PFOS and PFOA have been detected in marine mammals and aquatic organisms throughout the world including relatively pristine environments such as the Arctic (Kannan et al. 2002). PFOS and related perfluorinated compounds have been associated with a variety of toxic effects including mortality, carcinogenity, and adverse