Perfluorooctane+sulfonate+(Silver+Class)

Background: The chemical I was given to research about was Perfluorooctane sulfonate. This chemical is used in several different substances that are used all over the US. Some of these include stain repellents, textiles, paper, and leather. It can also be found in wax, polishes, paints, varnishes, and cleaning products for general use. It has also been used to make aqueous film forming foam, a component of fire-fighting foams, and alcohol-type concentrate foams. Some of the positive uses for this chemical would probably be the use in the fire fighting foams. But there are a lot more bad things about it than there are good things. Perfluorooctanesulfonates are persistent organic pollutants. It is exceptionally stable in the environment. In 1997, low levels of Perfluorooctanesulfonates were found in tissues of polar bears, dolphins, albatrosses, and blood samples from people worldwide. This chemical has been banded in the European Union along with several other places. It was used in one product made in the US by a company called 3M and the company was made recall all of the products because of having the substance in it. The US has been thinking of banning the use of this chemical as well. Not sure if they have made a decision on this problem yet or not. Human Health: The exposure of some wildlife organisms to PFOS could be near or at levels that are harmful to them. Current exposure for humans in is not significant enough to be considered dangerous to human health. A Scientific Report of a Health Assessment for PFOS showed that nearly all humans carry low levels of perfluorinated chemicals, including PFOS, in their blood as a result of exposure. While exact exposure routes are not well understood, people can be exposed to perfluorinated chemicals from air, surface and ground water, foods, and from the possible release of perfluorinated chemicals during possible use of commercial products that contain them. Environmental: PFOS was found in blood and livers of all fishes and surface water from Japan. Concentrations of PFOS in blood of fishes ranged from 2 to 834 mL. The greatest concentration PFOS in surface water was found in Tokyo Bay at 59 L. Concentrations of PFOS in Japanese fishes were similar to those in some fishes from the Great Lakes region of the US. Concentrations of PFOS in surface water of Tokyo Bay were similar to those reported for the Tennessee River in the US. Synthesis/Production Section: Perfluorooctane sulfonate is a degradation product of sulfonyl-based fluorochemicals that are used extensively in industrial and household applications. Perfluorooctane sulfonate was a key ingredient in Scotchgard, a fabric protector made by 3M, and numerous stain repellents. In 2000, 3M decided to reformulate Scotchgard, an effort that was finished in 2002. Perfluorooctane sulfonate has also been used to make aqueous film forming foam, a component of fire-fighting foams, and alcohol-type concentrate foams. Perfluorooctane sulfonate compounds can be also found in some impregnation agents for textiles, paper, and leather; in wax, polishes, paints, varnishes, and cleaning products for general use in metal surfaces, and carpets. In the semiconductor industry, it is used in multiple photolithographic chemicals including photo acid generators and anti-reflective coatings Economic/Political Impact**:** If this chemical were to be banned then any of the companies that use it would need to find a replacement for it which might not work as well as this chemical dose in the product. If it ere banned then maybe the fire fighting foams might not put out fires as well maybe the different polishes and waxes wouldn’t do what they were made to do as well as it used to. If this product is banned then it would hurt some companies but at least we wouldn’t have to worry about what the long-term effects of this chemical will do to us or our children or any future generation that would be born into the world. So it may be hurting some products but when you look at it in a long-term effect a few products are worth the future of the human race. Summary: I think that the costs that would come as a result of not doing anything would be a lot worse than if we do take the precautions that are needed and make sure that there are things to prevent the people from getting this chemical into their body and allowing it to mess things up. I think that some precautions that could be taken would be to filter it out of the water and other things that people come into contact with. Another thing would be to remove it from things that are used on the objects that children and other people come into contact with like flame-retardants that are commonly used on carpets and other house hold objects. Doing just a few of these things will help to prevent this chemical from getting into people and messing things up. Abstract: Perfluorooctane sulfonate is used in several different substances that are used all over the US. Some of these include stain repellents, textiles, paper, and leather. It can also be found in wax, polishes, paints, varnishes, and cleaning products for general use. It has also been used to make aqueous film forming foam, a component of fire-fighting foams, and alcohol-type concentrate foams. Some positive uses for this is that it is used in fire fighting foams so when it is used it helps to put out the fires that destroy homes and different areas. The exposure of some wildlife organisms to PFOS could be near or at levels that are harmful to them. Current exposure for humans in is not significant enough to be considered dangerous to human health. A Scientific Report of a Health Assessment for PFOS showed that nearly all humans carry low levels of perfluorinated chemicals, including PFOS, in their blood as a result of exposure. While exact exposure routes are not well understood, people can be exposed to perfluorinated chemicals from air, surface and ground water, foods, and from the possible release of perfluorinated chemicals during possible use of commercial products that contain them. I think that the costs that would come as a result of not doing anything would be a lot worse than if we do take the precautions that are needed and make sure that there are things to prevent the people from getting this chemical into their body and allowing it to mess things up. I think that some precautions that could be taken would be to filter it out of the water and other things that people come into contact with. Another thing would be to remove it from things that are used on the objects that children and other people come into contact with like flame-retardants that are commonly used on carpets and other house hold objects. Doing just a few of these things will help to prevent this chemical from getting into people and messing things up.