Scrutinized Chemicals Linger In Atmosphere

From: Robina Suwol
Date: 14 Oct 2003
Time: 17:24:59
Remote Name: 66.169.115.157

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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
http://www.sciencenews.org/20030830/note15.asp.
 
Sources:
 
Scott A. Mabury
Department of Chemistry
University of Toronto
80 St. George Street
Toronto, ON M5S 3H6
Canada
 
http://www.sciencenews.org/20031011/note17.asp

 


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