As scientists and other professionals from a variety of disciplines, we are concerned about the production and release into the environment of an increasing number of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) for the following reasons:

Global action through the Montreal Protocol (United Nations Environment Programme 2012) successfully reduced the use of the highly persistent ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), thus allowing for the recovery of the ozone layer. However, many of the organofluorine replacements for CFCs are still of concern due to their high global warming potential. It is essential to learn from such past efforts and take measures at the international level to reduce the use of PFASs in products and prevent their replacement with fluorinated alternatives in order to avoid long-term harm to human health and the environment.

For these reasons, we call on the international community to cooperate in limiting the production and use of PFASs and in developing safer nonfluorinated alternatives. We therefore urge scientists, governments, chemical and product manufacturers, purchasing organizations, retailers, and consumers to take the following actions:

Scientists:

Assemble, in collaboration with industry and governments, a global inventory of all PFASs in use or in the environment, including precursors and degradation products, and their functionality, properties, and toxicology.

Develop analytical methods for the identification and quantification of additional families of PFASs, including fluorinated alternatives.

Continue monitoring for legacy PFASs in different matrices and for environmental reservoirs of PFASs.

Continue investigating the mechanisms of toxicity and exposure (e.g., sources, fate, transport, and bioaccumulation of PFASs), and improve methods for testing the safety of alternatives.

Bring research results to the attention of policy makers, industry, the media, and the public.

Governments:

Enact legislation to require only essential uses of PFASs, and enforce labeling to indicate uses.

Require manufacturers of PFASs to

conduct more extensive toxicological testing,

make chemical structures public,

provide validated analytical methods for detection of PFASs, and

assume extended producer responsibility and implement safe disposal of products and stockpiles containing PFASs.

Work with industry to develop public registries of products containing PFASs.

Make public annual statistical data on production, imports, and exports of PFASs.

Whenever possible, avoid products containing, or manufactured using, PFASs in government procurement.

In collaboration with industry, ensure that an infrastructure is in place to safely transport, dispose of, and destroy PFASs and PFAS-containing products, and enforce these measures.

Chemical manufacturers:

Make data on PFASs publicly available, including chemical structures, properties, and toxicology.

Provide scientists with standard samples of PFASs, including precursors and degradation products, to enable environmental monitoring of PFASs.

Work with scientists and governments to develop safe disposal methods for PFASs.

Provide the supply chain with documentation on PFAS content and safe disposal guidelines.

Develop nonfluorinated alternatives that are neither persistent nor toxic.

Product manufacturers:

Stop using PFASs where they are not essential or when safer alternatives exist.

Develop inexpensive and sensitive PFAS quantification methods for compliance testing.

Label products containing PFASs, including chemical identity and safe disposal guidelines.

Invest in the development and use of nonfluorinated alternatives.

Purchasing organizations, retailers, and individual consumers:

Whenever possible, avoid products containing, or manufactured using, PFASs. These include many products that are stain-resistant, waterproof, or nonstick.

Question the use of such fluorinated “performance” chemicals added to consumer products.

The views expressed in this statement are solely those of the authors and signatories. The authors declare they have no actual or potential competing financial interests.

Signatories