Scrutinized Chemicals Linger In Atmosphere
From: Robina Suwol
Date: 14 Oct 2003
Time: 17:24:59
Remote Name: 66.169.115.157
Comments
SCRUTINIZED CHEMICALS LINGER IN ATMOSPHERE
By Ben Harder, Science News, Oct. 11, 2003
Don't look up now, but new research indicates that industrial chemicals called
fluorotelomer alcohols, or FTOHs, may remain
suspended in the air for several weeks on average. Their longevity in the
atmosphere suggests that they may widely disperse before degrading into
durable environmental contaminants that have been found far from
industrialized areas.
FTOHs are ingredients in many consumer products, including paints, polishes,
adhesives, waxes, and stain-repellent coatings. Gradually, the chemicals
escape into the air. Some scientists presume that FTOHs and related alcohols
break down into extremely durable, so-called perfluorinated chemicals, which
are widespread in the environment and have recently been found to accumulate
in and harm animals (SN: 8/30/03, p. 142: Available to subscribers at
http://www.sciencenews.org/20030830/note15.asp).
To determine whether FTOHs have the wherewithal to spread far and wide, Scott
Mabury of the University of Toronto and his colleagues at the university and
at Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Mich., simulated natural chemical
interactions that would tend to degrade FTOHs in the atmosphere. The breakdown
rates the team measured for three different FTOHs suggest that the humanmade
substances remain intact and airborne for about 20 days, the scientists report
in the Sept. 1 Environmental
Science and Technology.
Mabury and his colleagues estimate that FTOHs could therefore travel about
7,000 kilometers before breaking down. Further study is needed to determine
whether the breakdown products include hardy perfluorinated contaminants, they
say.
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References and Sources
References:
Ellis, D.A...S.A. Mabury, et al. 2003. Atmospheric lifetime of fluorotelomer
alcohols. Environmental Science and Technology 37(Sept. 1):3816-3820.
Further Readings:
Raloff, J. 2003. Nonstick but not nontoxic. Science News 164(Aug. 30):142.
Available to subscribers at
Sources:
Scott A. Mabury
Department of Chemistry
University of Toronto
80 St. George Street
Toronto, ON M5S 3H6
Canada
Last changed: March 14, 2006