In an article published on January 11, 2018 in the peer-reviewed journal Food and Chemical Toxicology, Shruti Kabadi and colleagues from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluated the human biopersistence potential of shorter-chain polyfluorinated compounds (PFCs). PFCs are authorized and commonly used as grease-proofing agents in food contact paper. Longer-chain C8-PFCs have been replaced with the shorter-chain C6-PFCs due to the concerns over the C8-PFCs’ potential to accumulate in human tissues. However, the bioaccumulation potential of the C6-PFCs themselves has not been fully evaluated up to now.
The scientists estimated the internal exposure to several key metabolites of 6:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 FTOH), which is a monomeric component of C6-PFCs. Their study demonstrated the high biopersistence potential of 6:2 FTOH, and identified one of its metabolites, 5:3 fluorotelomer carboxylic acid (5:3 A), as an important biomarker. It can be used in biomonitoring studies or for assessment of chronic exposure to 6:2 FTOH through diet.
In an article published on January 18, 2018 by regulatory news provider Chemical Watch, reporter Emma Davies pointed out that 6:2 FTOH is also a metabolite of 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-tridecafluoroctyl methacrylate (FTMA, CAS 2144-53-8). This chemical is currently being evaluated by Germany under the Community Rolling Action Plan (CoRAP) as several in vitro studies have suggested that 6:2 FTOH may have estrogenic activity.
Read more
Emma Davies (January 18, 2018). “FDA scientists voice concerns over metabolites of food contact substance.” Chemical Watch
Reference
Kabadi, S., et al. (2018). “Internal exposure-based pharmacokinetic evaluation of potential for biopersistence of 6:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (FTOH) and its metabolites.” Food and Chemical Toxicology (published January 11, 2018).
