Introduction

Under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (Canada 1999), the Minister of the Environment has conducted an ecological screening assessment of the long-chain (C9-C20) perfluorocarboxylic acids, their salts and precursors. These were identified as substances of concern as a result of Environment Canada’s New Substances notification process and through the Action Plan for the Assessment and Management of Perfluorinated Carboxylic Acids and their Precursors (https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2014/ec/En14-128-2006-eng.pdf, PDF 120 kB). In 2004, Health Canada and Environment Canada assessed four fluorotelomer-based substances under the New Substances provisions of Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999(Canada 1999). These substances were suspected of being “toxic” as they contained direct precursors to perfluorocarboxylic acids and were deemed capable of degrading to perfluorocarboxylic acids. Regulations were proposed to maintain the prohibitions on these new sources of perfluorocarboxylic acids. The proposed amendments to the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2005 were published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on June 17, 2006.

This ecological assessment focuses on the perfluorocarboxylic acids with carbon chain lengths from 9 to 20 inclusive, their salts and their precursors. Precursors were considered on the basis of their contribution to the total presence of long-chain (C9-C20) perfluorocarboxylic acids in the environment. The precursors, CAS RN 65530-63-4, CAS RN65530-71-4,CAS RN65530-72-5, CAS RN65530-74-7, CAS RN68391-08-2, CAS RN68412-68-0, CAS RN115592-83-1, CAS RN65530-61-2, CAS RN70969-47-0, CAS RN65530-66-7, CAS RN65605-58-5, CAS RN65605-70-1, CAS RN65636-35-3, CAS RN68239-43-0, and CAS RN110053-43-5 were found to meet the ecological categorization criteria for persistence, and/or bioaccumulation potential and inherent toxicity to non-human organisms. None of these substances were considered to be a high priority for assessment of potential risks to human health, based upon application of the simple exposure and hazard tools developed by Health Canada for categorization of substances on the Domestic Substances List.

Data relevant to the screening assessment of long-chain (C9-C20) perfluorocarboxylic acids were identified in review and assessment documents, stakeholder research reports and literature searches, up to November 2009. In addition, industry surveys on perfluoroalkyls/fluoroalkyls were conducted for the years 2000 and 2004 through a Canada Gazette notice issued pursuant to section 71 of Canadian Environmental Protection Act,1999 (Canada 1999). These surveys collected data on the manufacture, import, and uses of perfluoroalkyls/fluoroalkyls in Canada. Toxicological studies submitted by industry under section 70 of CEPA 1999 were also considered.

Screening assessments focus on information critical to determining whether a substance meets the criteria as set out in section 64 of Canadian Environmental Protection Act,1999 (Canada 1999). The approach taken in this ecological screening assessment was to examine various supporting information and develop conclusions based on multiple lines of evidence such as persistence, bioaccumulation, toxicity, temporal trends, and widespread occurrence in biota. This screening assessment does not present an exhaustive review of all available data. Instead, it presents the critical studies and lines of evidence supporting the conclusions.

This draft screening assessment was prepared by staff in the Existing Substances program at Environment Canada. This ecological assessment has undergone external written peer review/consultation. Although external comments were taken into consideration, the final content and outcome of the draft screening risk assessment remain the responsibility of Environment Canada.

The critical information and considerations upon which the draft assessment is based are summarized below.