PFOS and PFOA testing service

Perfluorooctane Sulphonate (hereafter referred to as PFOS) is a fully fluorinated anion with the chemical properties of oil and water resistance. PFOS, its salts and its precursors are widely used directly or as a part of polymers with high molecular weights to improve the surface behavior of products. For instance, PFOS related chemicals can endow personal garment, house decoration and automobile garnish with the properties of antifouling, oil and water resistance. Paper or cardboard will also be of oil or water resistance after it is treated with PFOS related chemicals.

However, PFOS has the characteristics including persistence, bioaccumulation and long-range transport and can cause for organisms carcinogenic, mutagenic risks and toxicity to reproduction.

In order to protect health and environment, European Union promulgated on 27 December 2006 Directive 2006/122/EC, in which the placing on the market and the use of PFOS (except a few exemptions) is restricted as below:

1. May not be placed on the market or used as a substance or constituent of preparations in a concentration equal to or higher than 0.005% by mass.
2. May not be placed on the market in semi-finished products or articles, or parts thereof, if the concentration of PFOS is equal to or higher than 0.1% by mass calculated with reference to the mass of structurally or microstructurally distinct parts that contain PFOS or, for textiles or other coated materials, if the amount of PFOS is equal to or higher than 1 μg/m2 of the coated material.

Directive 2006/122/EC will enter into force on 27 June 2008. Other countries such as the United States, Canada, Norway and Australia etc. have been also issued regulations to restrict the placing on the market and use of PFOS. In addition, many world famous enterprises refuse to purchase from suppliers raw materials and components that contain PFOS.

At the same time, European Parliament has already suggested to restrict the use of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) due to the suspicion on its hazards similar to PFOS. PFOA and its derivatives can be used for surface treatment, packaging of fast food, antifouling materials and fire fighting foam.

SGS can provide real-time information for you and help to identify the PFOS/PFOA content situation in materials of your products.