Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Inventory development for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) in Turkey: challenges to control chemicals in articles and products

  • 12th IHPA Forum and selected studies on POPs
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and related substances have been listed as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the Stockholm Convention. Countries which have ratified the Convention need to take appropriate actions to control PFOS use and release. This study compiles and enhances the findings of the first inventory of PFOS and related substances use in Turkey conducted within the frame of the Stockholm Convention National Implementation Plan (NIP) update. The specific Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (Harmonized System (HS)) codes of imported and exported goods that possibly contain PFOS and 165 of Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) numbers of PFOS-related substances were assessed for acquiring information from customs and other authorities. However, with the current approaches available, no useful information could be compiled since HS codes are not specific enough and CAS numbers are not used by customs. Furthermore, the cut-off volume in chemical databases in Turkey and the reporting limit in the HS system (0.1 %) are too high for controlling PFOS. The attempt of modeling imported volumes by a Monte Carlo simulation did not also result in a satisfactory estimate, giving an upper-bound estimate above the global production volumes. The replies to questionnaires were not satisfactory, highlighting that an elaborated approach is needed in the communication with potentially PFOS-using stakeholders. The experience of the challenges of gathering information on PFOS in articles and products revealed the gaps of controlling highly hazardous substances in products and articles and the need of improvements.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Armitage JM, Schenker U, Scheringer M, Martin JW, Macleod M, Cousins IT (2009) Modeling the global fate and transport of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and precursor compounds in relation to temporal trends in wildlife exposure. Environ Sci Technol 43(24):9274–9280

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buck RC, Franklin J, Berger U, Conder JM, Cousins IT, de Voogt P, Jensen AA, Kannan K, Mabury SA, van Leeuwen SPJ (2011) Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the environment: terminology, classification, and origins. Integr Environ Assess Manag 7(4):513–541

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brambilla G, D’Hollander W, Oliaei F, Stahl T, Weber R (2014) Pathways and factors for food safety and food security at PFOS contaminated sites within a problem based learning approach. Chemosphere. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.09.050

  • Busch J, Ahrens L, Sturm R, Ebinghaus R (2010) Polyfluoroalkyl compounds in landfill leachates. Environ Pollut 158(5):1467–1471

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calafat AM, Needham LL, Kuklenyik Z, Reidy JA, Tully JS, Aguilar-Villalobos M, Naeher LP (2006) Perfluorinated chemicals in selected residents of the American continent. Chemosphere 63(3):490–496

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carloni, D (2009) Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) production and use: past and current evidence. UNIDO Regional Office in China.

  • Chen C, Lu Y, Zhang X, Geng J, Wang T, Shi Y, Hu W, Li J (2009) A review of spatial and temporal assessment of PFOS and PFOA contamination in China. Chem Ecol 25(3):163–177

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen H, Zhang C, Yu Y, Han J (2012) Sorption of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) on marine sediments. Mar Pollut Bull 64(5):902–906

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke DB, Bailey VA, Routledge A, Lloyd AS, Hird S, Mortimer DN, Gem M (2010) Dietary intake estimate for perfluorooctanesulphonic acid (PFOS) and other perfluorocompounds (PFCs) in UK retail foods following determination using standard addition LC–MS/MS. Food Addit Contam Part A: Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 27(4):530–545

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Conder JM, Hoke RA, De Wolf W, Russell MH, Buck RC (2008) Are PFCAs bioaccumulative? A critical review and comparison with regulatory criteria and persistent lipophilic compounds. Environ Sci Technol 42(4):995–1003

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Danish Environmental Protection Agency (Danish EPA) (2012) Updated national implementation plan for the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants for Denmark. Copenhagen, Denmark.

  • European Commission (2004) Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on persistent organic pollutants and amending Directive 79/117/EEC.

  • European Commission (2010a) Commission Regulation (EU) No 757/2010 of 24 August 2010 amending Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council on persistent organic pollutants as regards Annexes I and III.

  • European Commission (2010b) Commission Regulation (EU) No 756/2010 of 24 August 2010 amending Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council on persistent organic pollutants as regards Annexes IV and V.

  • Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) (2012) Switzerland’s first update of the national implementation plan under the Stockholm Convention for the period 2005 to 2012. Berne, Switzerland.

  • Guo F, Zhong Y, Wang Y, Li J, Zhang J, Liu J, Zhao Y, Wu Y (2011) Perfluorinated compounds in human blood around Bohai Sea, China. Chemosphere 85(2):156–162

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Herzke D, Olsson E, Posner S (2012) Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in consumer products in Norway—a pilot study. Chemosphere 88(8):980–987

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Houtz EF, Higgins CP, Field JA, Sedlak DL (2013) Persistence of perfluoroalkyl acid precursors in AFFF-impacted groundwater and soil. Environ Sci Technol 47(15):8187–8195

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hsu JY, Hsu JF, Ho HH, Chiang CF, Liao PC (2013) Background levels of persistent organic pollutants in humans from Taiwan: perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid. Chemosphere 93(3):532–537

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Istanbul Minerals and Metals Exporters’ Associations (IMMIB) (2013) Sectoral report for industry of ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

  • Kannan K, Corsolini S, Falandysz J, Fillmann G, Kumar KS, Loganathan BG, Mohd MA, Jesus Olivero O, Van Wouwe N, Yang JH (2004) Perfluorooctanesulfonate and related fluorochemicals in human blood from several countries. Environ Sci Technol 38:4489–4495

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly BC, Ikonomou MG, Blair JD, Surridge B, Hoover D, Grace R, Gobas FAPC (2009) Perfluoroalkyl contaminants in an arctic marine food web: trophic magnification and wildlife exposure. Environ Sci Technol 43(11):4037–4043

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lim TC, Wang B, Huang J, Deng S, Yu G (2011) Emission inventory for PFOS in China: review of past methodologies and suggestions. Sci World J 11:1963–1980

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lindh CH, Rylander L, Toft G, Axmon A, Rignell-Hydbom A, Giwercman A, Pedersen HS, Goalcyzk K, Ludwicki JK, Zvyezday V, Vermeulen R, Lenters V, Heederik D, Bonde JP, Jönsson BA (2012) Blood serum concentrations of perfluorinated compounds in men from Greenlandic Inuit and European populations. Chemosphere 88(11):1269–1275

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (METIJ) (2011) Import clearance procedures for the chemical substances under the Act on the Evaluation of Chemical Substances and Regulation of Their Manufacture, etc., Draft

  • Ministry of Economy of Turkey (MET) (2012) Carpet Sector. Report, Sectoral

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology of Turkey (2012) Sectoral report for industry of textile. Apparel and Leather, Turkey

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology of Turkey (MSITT) (2013) Sectoral report for industry of textile. Apparel and Leather, Turkey

    Google Scholar 

  • Moody CA, Field JA (2000) Perfluorinated surfactants and the environmental implications of their use in fire-fighting foams. Environ Sci Technol 34(18):3864–3870

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oliaei F, Kriens D, Weber R, Watson A (2013) PFOS and PFC releases and associated pollution from a PFC production plant in Minnesota (USA). Environ Sci Pollut Res 20(4):1977–1992

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Olsen GW, Mair DC, Church TR, Ellefson ME, Reagen WK, Boyd TM, Herron RM, Medhdizadehkashi Z, Nobiletti JB, Rios JA, Butenhoff JL, Zobel LR (2008) Decline in perfluorooctanesulfonate and other polyfluoroalkyl chemicals in American Red Cross adult blood donors 2000–2006. Environ Sci Technol 42(13):4989–4995

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (2007) Lists of PFOS, PFAS, PFOA, PFCA, related compounds and chemicals that may degrade to PFCA (as revised in 2007), OECD Environment, Health and Safety Publications Series on Risk Management No. 21, Paris, France.

  • Paul AG, Jones KC, Sweetman AJ (2009) A first global production, emission, and environmental inventory for perfluorooctane sulfonate. Environ Sci Technol 43(2):386–392

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Perkola N, Sainio P (2013) Survey of perfluorinated alkyl acids in Finnish effluents, storm water, landfill leachate and sludge. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 20:7979–7987

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pistocchi A, Loos R (2009) A map of European emissions and concentrations of PFOS and PFOA. Environ Sci Technol 43(24):9237–9244

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pulp and Paper Industry Foundation for Turkey (PPIF) (2011) Annual Sectoral Report.

  • Riget F, Bossi R, Sonne C, Vorkamp K, Dietz R (2013) Trends of perfluorochemicals in Greenland ringed seals and polar bears: indications of shifts to decreasing trends. Chemosphere 93(8):1607–1614

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saikat S, Kreis I, Davies B, Bridgman S, Kamanyire R (2013) The impact of PFOS on health in the general population: a review. Environ Sci Process Impact 15(2):329–335

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scheringer M, Strempel S, Hukari S, Ng CA, Blepp M, Hungerbuhler K (2012) How many persistent organic pollutants should we expect? Atmos Pollut Res 3:383–391

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schuetze A, Heberer T, Effkemann S, Juergensen S (2010) Occurrence and assessment of perfluorinated chemicals in wild fish from Northern Germany. Chemosphere 78(6):647–652

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sinclair E, Kannan K (2006) Mass loading and fate of perfluoroalkyl surfactants in wastewater treatment plants. Environ Sci Technol 40:1408–1414

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stahl T, Daniela M, Hubertus B (2011) Toxicology of perfluorinated compounds. Environ Sci Eur 23(1):1–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SSC (Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention) (2012a) Guidance for the inventory of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and related chemicals listed under the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants

  • SSC (Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention) (2012b) Guidance for the control of import and export of POPs, Draft

  • UK Government (2008) The Buncefield incident 11 December 2005 The final report of the Major Incident Investigation Board.

  • United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) (2009) Recommendations of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee of the Stockholm Convention to amend Annexes A, B or C of the Convention.

  • Van Asselt ED, Rietra RPJJ, Römkens PFAM, Van der Fels-Klerx HJ (2011) Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) throughout the food production chain. Food Chem 128(1):1–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vassiliadou I, Costopoulou D, Ferderigou A, Leondiadis L (2010) Levels of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) in blood samples from different groups of adults living in Greece. Chemosphere 80(10):1199–1206

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Venkatesan AK, Halden RU (2013) National inventory of perfluoroalkyl substances in archived US biosolids from the 2001 EPA national sewage sludge survey. J Hazard Mater 252–253:413–418

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang B, Cao M, Zhu H, Chen J, Wang L, Liu G, Gu X, Lu X (2013) Distribution of perfluorinated compounds in surface water from Hanjiang River in Wuhan, China. Chemosphere 93(3):468–473

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weber R, Watson A, Forter M, Oliaei F (2011) Persistent organic pollutants and landfills—a review of past experiences and future challenges. Waste Manag Res 29(1):107–121

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weber R, Bantz I, Klumbies M, Valentin I, Fantke P (2010) PFOS and PFC pollution from use of fire fight foam in a major fire in Düsseldorf/Germany—human exposure and regulatory actions. Organohalogen Compd 72:1005–1008

    Google Scholar 

  • Xie S, Wang T, Liu S, Jones KC, Sweetman AJ, Lu Y (2013) Industrial source identification and emission estimation of perfluorooctane sulfonate in China. Environ Int 52:1–8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zareitalabad P, Siemens J, Hamer M, Amelung W (2013) Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) in surface waters, sediments, soils and wastewater—a review on concentrations and distribution coefficients. Chemosphere 91(6):725–732

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang L, Liu J, Hu J, Liu C, Guo W, Wang Q, Wang H (2012) The inventory of sources, environmental releases and risk assessment for perfluorooctane sulfonate in China. Environ Pollut 165:193–198

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Ms. Bursev Dogan Artukoglu and Mr. Ertan Ozturk (Ministry of Environment and Urbanization of Turkey); Mr. Melih Oral, Ms. Ozlem Cavus, and Ms. Yasemin Salmanoglu (NIP Update Study Coordination Team); and to the other PFOS team members and the participants of NIP update study from several ministries and industries for their support, interest, and comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Engineering, Kocaeli University, 41380, Kocaeli, Turkey

    M. Kemal Korucu & Aykan Karademir

  2. Department of Environmental Engineering, Akdeniz University, 07058, Antalya, Turkey

    Kadir Gedik

  3. POPs Environmental Consulting, 73527, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany

    Roland Weber

  4. Department of Environmental Engineering, Bursa Technical University, 16190, Bursa, Turkey

    Perihan Binnur Kurt-Karakus

Authors
  1. M. Kemal Korucu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kadir Gedik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Roland Weber
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Aykan Karademir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Perihan Binnur Kurt-Karakus
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Kemal Korucu.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Leif Kronberg

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM 1

(DOC 107 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Korucu, M.K., Gedik, K., Weber, R. et al. Inventory development for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) in Turkey: challenges to control chemicals in articles and products. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 14537–14545 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3924-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3924-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation