ECHA committee agrees to revise PFAS emissions calculations

Helsinki – European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) committee for risk assessment (RAC) has agreed to revise calculation methods for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) emissions, the agency has announced.

The decision followed a meeting on 26 Sept between RAC and the ECHA committee for socio-economic analysis (SEAC), which among other topics, reviewed the EU-wide proposal to restrict PFAS.

RAC has now agreed to revise how PFAS emissions are calculated across different sectors, particularly focusing on emissions during the waste stage, such as from disposal and incineration.

The revised approach, ECHA said, will distinguish between PFAS particle emissions (solid) and those that leach from materials.

According to ECHA, the distinction is crucial as concerns related to fluoropolymer particles differ from those associated with non-polymeric PFAS.

The two committees reviewed the application of PFAS in petroleum and mining; textiles, upholstery, leather, apparel and carpets; and food contact material and packaging during their September meeting.

They reached provisional conclusion for on the evaluation of the petroleum and mining sector.

Discussions on the other two sectors will continue in the next meetings.

Further reviews, covering fluorinated gases, transport, and energy, are scheduled for November.