Toxics Release Inventory Expanded with the Addition of 4 PFAS Chemicals
The addition of four per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) list was recently announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These were added in conjunction with Section 7321(c) of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which establishes a framework for adding PFAS to the TRI annually. This addition brings the total number of PFAS chemicals on the list to 179.
Toxics Release Inventory
Comprised of 770 chemicals and 33 chemical categories, the TRI is used for tracking the release of certain toxic chemical substances into the environment from more than 21,000 facilities throughout the United States. Releases may include emissions into air or water, or disposal via landfill.
Chemicals selected for inclusion in the TRI include those that cause one or more of the following:
- Substantial harmful environmental effects
- Serious detrimental acute human health effects
- Serious detrimental chronic human health effects, or cancer
Within certain applicable industries, businesses (with 10 or more full-time employees) that use, produce, or process such chemicals at or over designated threshold quantities are required to report these amounts for inclusion in the TRI on an annual basis.
4 New PFAS Chemicals
The four latest PFAS additions to the TRI list are displayed in the table below:
| # | Substance Name | CAS Number |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid | 375-73-5 |
| 2 | Potassium perfluorobutane sulfonate | 29420-49-3 |
| 3 | 2-Propenoic acid, 2-methyl-, 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10,11,11,12,12,12-heneicosafluorododecyl ester, polymer with 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10,10-heptadecafluorodecyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate, methyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate, 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10,11,11,12,12,13,13,14,14,14-pentacosafluorotetradecyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate and 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-tridecafluorooctyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate | 65104-45-2 |
| 4 | 2-Propenoic acid, 2-methyl-, hexadecyl ester, polymers with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, γ-ω-perfluoro-C10-16-alkyl acrylate and stearyl methacrylate | 203743-03-7 |
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The full list of PFAS that have been added to the TRI by the NDAA can be found on the EPA website.
Data Reporting
The recent addition of the new PFAS to the TRI list aligns with the EPA's Strategic Roadmap in its efforts to address the environmental and health risks of these chemicals.
Businesses using (including manufacturing or processing) any of the PFAS on the list in quantities greater than or equal to 100 lbs are obligated to report releases to the EPA. They are also required to report information on the recycling or disposal of PFAS to the Agency. Information for TRI Reporting Year 2022 must be received by the EPA no later than July 1, 2023.
Access Additional Toxic Chemical and Release Information
Containing release data on a wide range of toxic chemical substances in the United States, the TRI is a critical tool for the management of chemical releases and pollution prevention. For accessing additional information on TRI substances, as well as an abundance of other chemicals, ToxPlanet offers a collection of invaluable resources.
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