Aquatic hazard, bioaccumulation and screening risk assessment for ammonium 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy)-propanoate

• The fluoropolymer industry is moving to alternative polymerization processing aid with more favorable environmental profiles.
• One candidate replacement chemical is ammonium 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy)-propanoate.
• Aquatic toxicity studies indicate ammonium 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy)-propanoate is not classified for aquatic hazard.
• A bioconcentration study with common carp indicates the substance is of low concern for bioconcentration.
• PNEC comparisons with reported surface water concentrations suggest the risk to aquatic organisms is low.

The fluoropolymer manufacturing industry is moving to alternative polymerization processing aid technologies with more favorable toxicological and environmental profiles as part of a commitment to curtail the use of long-chain perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs). To facilitate the environmental product stewardship assessment and premanufacture notification (PMN) process for a candidate replacement chemical, we conducted acute and chronic aquatic toxicity tests to evaluate the toxicity of ammonium 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy)-propanoate (C6HF11O3.H3N) or the acid form of the substance to the cladoceran, Daphnia magna, the green alga, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, and a number of freshwater fish species including the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, In addition, testing with the common carp, Cyprinus carpio, was conducted to determine the bioconcentration potential of the acid form of the compound. Based on the relevant criteria in current regulatory frameworks, the results of the aquatic toxicity and bioconcentration studies indicate the substance is of low concern for aquatic hazard and bioconcentration in aquatic organisms. Evaluation of environmental monitoring data in conjunction with the predicted no effect concentration (PNEC) based on the available data suggest low risk to aquatic organisms.