Table 3. Ecosystem impacts of PFOS exposure Type Air impacts Land impacts Water impacts Biota impacts Supporting ecosystem services: water cycle, nutrient cycle, soil formation, primary production, habitat ↑ adsorption of PFOS to airborne particles ↑ deposition of contaminated particles on ground, built environment & water ↑ PFOS vapour ↑ PFOS vapour exchange with oceans ↑ PFOS contaminated soil and substrate ↑ PFOS contaminated aquatic sediments ↑ PFOS contaminated biosolids ↑ PFOS leaching to surface water & groundwater ↑ bioaccumulation from soil ↑ PFOS in groundwater ↑ PFOS in surface water ↑ PFOS in precipitation ↑ chronic PFOS exposure ↑ acute PFOS exposure ↑ total body burden of toxins ↑ animal health effects of PFOS exposure ↑ bioaccumulation & biomagnification ↓ biodiversity ↓ ecological resilience Provisioning ecosystem services: nutrition, materials, energy none identified ↑ contaminated land ↑ land use conflicts ↓ land suitable for development ↓ aquatic & marine high conservation value areas ↓ surface water quality ↓ groundwater quality ↓ rainwater quality ↑ closures to fishing and aquaculture ↓ wild and food safety / quality assurance ↓ livestock & crop quality assurance Regulating ecosystem services ↓ ambient air quality ↑ total area with airborne PFOS contamination ↑ total area and number of sites with PFOS contamination in soil & substrate ↑ total area and number of sites with PFOS contamination in surface water & groundwater ↑ total area and number of sites with PFOS contamination in biota ↓ wastewater filtration in wetlands ↓ pollination Cultural ecosystem services: outdoor activities, knowledge generation, spiritual & symbolic values none identified ↓ recreational gardening ↓ swimming and diving ↓ recreational boating ↓ recreational fishing ↓ recreational hunting & wild food gathering ↓ perception of environmental quality, safety and sound management ↓ aesthetic value of flora, fauna, and ecosystems ↓ existence value of flora, fauna and ecosystems ↓ spiritual and cultural value of flora, fauna and ecosystem assets and traditional practices for Indigenous people Notes: ↑ = increase ↓ = decrease Research has identified a range of effects in animals that are associated with exposure to PFOS in the nervous, reproductive, immune, digestive and endocrine systems (examples are summarised in Table 4). However, the evidence on potential modes of action for these effects is not conclusive and requires further research. grown
Decorative chromium plating No No Ban after 5 yrs Ban Plastics etching No No Ban after 5 yrs Ban Fire fighting No No No Ban Xray photography No No No No Replacement parts for older medical devices No No No No Aviation hydraulic fluids* No No Ban Ban Textiles, clothing, leather* No No Ban Ban Mining* No No Ban Ban Paper and paper board* No No Ban Ban Product trials – transition to nonPFOS alternatives Hard chromium plating No No Yes Yes Decorative chromium plating No No Yes Yes Plastics etching No No Yes Yes Improved waste management Hard chromium plating - sludge No Yes Yes N/A Fire fighting uses – firewater and soil No Yes Yes N/A Fire fighting uses – disposal of existing stocks No Yes Yes N/A Photographic materials - film No No No Yes Water utilities - biosolids No Yes Yes Yes Landfill - leachate No Yes Yes Yes Industry awareness, education and training Alternatives Yes Yes Yes Yes Certification requirements No Yes No No Ratification requirements No No Yes Yes *It is assumed there is no current use of PFOS in these in industries, but there is no restriction under Options 1 and 2. Option 1: No new policy intervention Under Option 1, the Government would not take any additional action to reduce PFOS emissions or phase out its use. All current uses would continue without new regulatory controls at the national level. The Government would continue to monitor international developments under the Stockholm Convention, particularly in relation to PFOS production, use, standards and alternatives. Existing non-regulatory measures would also continue, such as developing information and resources for industry to facilitate the uptake of alternatives. This option presents a range of risks: Use of PFOS would continue, including the use of existing stockpiles. PFOS emissions, waste disposal and destruction would not be controlled.