Aquatic hazard, bioaccumulation and screening risk assessment for 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate

• 6:2 FTSA is a principal degradation product of short-chain fluorotelomer surfactants.
• 6:2 FTSA is not classified for aquatic hazard and presents little risk to aquatic organisms.
• 6:2 FTSA BCFs were <40 and the dietary BMF was 0.295.
• 6:2 FTSA is unlikely to bioaccumulate or biomagnify in aquatic systems.
• Studies are needed of the fate/effects of commercial AFFF surfactants.

This study assessed the aquatic toxicity and bioaccumulation potential of 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTSA). Acute and chronic aquatic hazard endpoints indicate 6:2 FTSA is not classified for aquatic hazard according to GHS or European CLP legislation. The aqueous bioconcentration factors for 6:2 FTSA were <40 and the dietary assimilation efficiency, growth corrected half-life and dietary biomagnification factor (BMF) were 0.435, 23.1 d and 0.295, respectively. These data indicate that 6:2 FTSA is not bioaccumulative in aquatic organisms. Comparison of PNECs with the reported surface water concentrations (non-spill situations) suggests low risk to aquatic organisms from 6:2 FTSA. Future studies are needed to elucidate the biotic and abiotic fate of commercial AFFF surfactants in the environment.