--- title: "Fluoropolymers are Considered PFAS" id: "2417" type: "post" slug: "fluoropolymers-are-pfas" published_at: "2023-11-20T13:31:26+00:00" modified_at: "2024-09-19T16:30:36+00:00" url: "https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2023/11/fluoropolymers-are-pfas-002417/" markdown_url: "https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2023/11/fluoropolymers-are-pfas-002417.md" excerpt: "The use of \"forever chemicals\" in the European Union would be largely banned under a proposal issued by the European Chemicals Agency. At the same time, more US states continue to ban PFAS-containing products without a clear roadmap for the..." taxonomy_category: - "Adhesives" - "Aerospace" - "Automotive & Transportation" - "Building & Construction" - "Business" - "Composites" - "Decorating & Coatings" - "Education & Training" - "Electrical & Electronics" - "Film" - "Flexible Packaging" - "Foam Processing" - "Foaming Agents" - "Food Packaging" - "Industry" - "Injection Molding" - "Legal Analysis" - "Materials" - "Mold & Die Making" - "Packaging" - "Polycarbonate" - "Process" - "Regulation" - "Resins" - "Semi-Finished Products" - "Silicones" - "Sports & Recreation" - "Strategy" - "Sustainability" - "Testing & Analysis" - "Thermoforming" - "Thermoplastics" - "Thermosets" - "Trending" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Advanced Thermoplastics" - "Building & Construction" - "Business" - "Circular Economy" - "Elastomers" - "electrical/electronics" - "Fluoropolymers" - "Injection Molding" - "medical devices" - "Packaging" - "PFAs" - "Polyfluoroalkyls" - "Regulation" - "thermoplastic elastomer" - "Thermoplastics" - "Thermosets" --- [Home](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/) » [News](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/news/) » [Industry](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/c/industry/) » Fluoropolymers are Considered PFAS # Fluoropolymers are Considered PFAS ### The use of “forever chemicals” in the European Union would be banned mainly under a proposal issued by the European Chemicals Agency. At the same time, more US states continue to ban PFAS-containing products without a clear roadmap for the plastic industry. **You can also read:**[Fluoropolymers Life Cycle and PFAS Contamination](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2023/12/fluoropolymers-life-cycle-and-pfas-contamination-002533/) ## What are PFAS and how are they related to plastics? The [European Chemicals Agency](https://echa.europa.eu/restrictions-under-consideration/-/substance-rev/72301/term) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) defined PFAS as fluorinated substances that contain at least one fully fluorinated methyl or methylene carbon atom (without any H/Cl/Br/I atom attached to it) in their structure. That is, with a few noted exceptions, any chemical with at least a perfluorinated methyl group (–CF3) or a perfluorinated methylene group (–CF2). As a result, PFAS can be distinct substances with very different properties. They can be polymers and non-polymers; solids, liquids, and gases; persistent and nonpersistent substances; highly reactive and inert substances; mobile and insoluble substances; and (eco) toxic and nontoxic chemicals. Robert C Buck et al tried to do a comprehensive classification. This work promotes a sound, unified understanding among all players in the PFAS industry. Also, the scientific research related to it, and the bodies responsible for the regulation of chemicals. [Terminology and classification of PFAS. Courtesy of Buck et al.](https://setac.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ieam.258) ## **Most Fluoropolymers are PFAS** Fluoropolymers are a family of high-performance plastics which contain strong carbon-fluorine (C-F) bonds. This unique atomic structure imparts desirable properties, such as chemical resistance, thermal stability, and electrical insulation. Various industries, including aerospace, automotive, electronics, packaging, and medical use these unique plastics. Nevertheless, according to the definition, most fluoropolymers are PFAS. Polymer Processing aids, like PTFE, are also considered PFAS, so producers will be forced to look for other PFAS-free alternatives. It is not clear if the regulation will make some exceptions to distinguish between Fluoropolymers, considered polymers of low concern for human health and the environment, and non-polymeric PFAS, which are the greatest risk based on toxicity profile and the potential for exposure. By **[Juliana Montoya](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/author/jmontoyaplasticsengineering-org/)** | November 20, 2023 [https://www.plasticsengineering.org](https://www.plasticsengineering.org) ##### [Juliana Montoya](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/author/jmontoyaplasticsengineering-org/) [Website](https://www.plasticsengineering.org) | [+ postsBio ⮌](#) ### Other posts you could read [April 9, 2026RecyQMeter: Quantifying Recycled Plastic Quality](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/recyqmeter-quantifying-recycled-plastic-quality-010917/) [April 27, 2026Nanocomposite Films from Car Bumper Waste](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/nanocomposite-films-from-car-bumper-waste-011041/) [May 1, 2026High-Viscosity Photopolymers Transform Additive Manufacturing](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/05/high-viscosity-photopolymers-transform-additive-manufacturing-011153/) [April 15, 2026ANTEC 2026: Rheology Understanding Leads to Competitiveness](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/antec-2026-rheology-understanding-leads-to-competitiveness-010797/) [April 14, 2026How to Test for Chemical Resistance in Plastic Components](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/how-to-test-for-chemical-resistance-in-plastic-components-010963/) [May 6, 2026Reinforcement Learning for Polymer Design and Manufacturing](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/05/reinforcement-learning-for-polymer-design-and-manufacturing-011146/) [April 15, 2026Advancing Sustainable Printed Electronics](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/advancing-sustainable-printed-electronics-011032/) [April 20, 2026Real-Time Melt Monitoring in Extrusion and Injection Molding](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/real-time-melt-monitoring-in-extrusion-and-injection-molding-011167/) ### The 3 comments Join the discussion and tell us your opinion. 1. [ROGER CATER](https://partec.qld.edu.au/) says: [November 20, 2023 at 6:23 pm](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2023/11/fluoropolymers-are-pfas-002417/#comment-145) The rapid development of the plastics industry over the past 50 years has run so much faster than the community uptake of the material use science and any needed regulatory regime. And this is the major problem which needs to be addressed in order to restrict the growth of false and misleading anti-plastic “gossip”, and to promote the real and the safe aspects of the technology, in a properly controlled and responsible manner.. [Reply](#comment-145) 1. Stevensays: [November 26, 2023 at 4:06 am](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2023/11/fluoropolymers-are-pfas-002417/#comment-158) Agreed, and most of the decision makers on these and other plastics related bans have no technical expertise on plastics technology! [Reply](#comment-158) 2. Seung Chan Ryusays: [November 20, 2023 at 6:53 pm](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2023/11/fluoropolymers-are-pfas-002417/#comment-146) Thanks for your papers. I’m a SPE member working for samyang of Korea. I’m not clear about PFAS regulations. I’ve some questions from some relating regulations for PTFE and PVDF. Especially, therer’e some difference between OECD and US EPA as I know. 1) US EPA: not under regulations 2) OECD: under regulations Are those right? Thanks a lot. 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