NON-STICK NO MORE: Environmental Defence Supports a Permanent Ban on four fluorotelomer based substances

Environmental Defence was invited by the New Substances Program of Environment Canada and Health Canada to submit comments on the assessment reports of four fluorotelomer based substances.

These substances are related to perfluorinated chemicals, which are used in non-stick applications and stain repellents in a variety of consumer products. In the environment, fluorotelomers transform into perfluorinated alcohols, which further transform into fluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs). PFCAs are known to be persistent and suspected to be bioaccumulative, subject to long-range transport, and associated with adverse health effects. One commonly used PFCA is PFOA, which is used in non-stick cookware.

As a precautionary measure, these four fluorotelomer substances were temporarily prohibited under CEPA (the Canadian Environmental Protection Act); the prohibitions expire on June 23, 2006 for three of the substances, and January 17, 2007 for the fourth unless regulations are proposed to manage these substances. Environmental Defence supports regulations that permanently ban these four fluorotelomers, as well as all other perfluorinated chemicals.

Read our comments on the assessment reports for the four fluorotelomer substances.

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