Spontaneous aqueous defluorination of trifluoromethylphenols: substituent effects and revisiting the mechanism.

Trifluoromethylphenols (TFMPs) are environmental contaminants that exist as transformation products of aryl-CF pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Their -CF moiety raises concerns as it may form problematic fluorinated transformation products such as the persistent pollutant trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). This study investigates the hydrolysis and spontaneous defluorination mechanisms of 2-TFMP, 3-TFMP, 4-TFMP, and 2-Cl-4-TFMP under environmentally relevant aqueous conditions, and under alkaline pH to investigate the mechanism of defluorination.

Unintended Consequences of Aquatic Enrichment in Experimental Biology.

Enrichment in aquatic animal studies is important for promoting welfare and maintaining animal health and can be categorized by physical, sensory, social, occupational, and dietary enrichment. However, the risk of potential chemical leaching associated with physical enrichment items has been largely overlooked (i.e.

Photochemical Formation of Trifluoroacetic Acid: Mechanistic Insights into a Fluoxetine-Related Aryl-CF Compound.

Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant; however, its sources are poorly constrained. One understudied source is from the photochemical reactions of aromatic compounds containing -CF moieties (aryl-CF) including many pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Here, we studied the aqueous photochemistry of 4-(trifluoromethyl)phenol (4-TFMP), a known transformation product of the pharmaceutical fluoxetine.

Taking the "F" out of forever chemicals.

The right solvent mix breaks down perfluorinated organic acids.

Aerobic biotransformation of a novel highly functionalized polyfluoroether-based surfactant using activated sludge from a wastewater treatment plant.

A replacement fluorosurfactant has been recently introduced to the European market as an alternative to other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that have been phased-out or banned. Here, we incubated this novel fluorosurfactant (diFESOS, [FCOCHFCFSCHCHOC(O)]CHSO) which contains ether and thioether insertions, and its known polyfluoroalkyl degradation products, an alcohol (FESOH) and carboxylic acid (FESCA), with activated sludge from a wastewater treatment plant under sulfur-limited conditions. Dosed chemicals and their transformation products were monitored using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

In Vivo Transformation of a Novel Polyfluoroether Surfactant.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are a class of fluorochemicals that can degrade into perfluoroalkyl acids, which are well known to be persistent in the environment. It is thus important that novel fluorinated surfactants be designed to degrade into small, nonbioaccumulative products. We report the biotransformation and elimination kinetics of one such novel polyfluorinated surfactant, di(polyfluoroether thioether(S)-oate) sulfonate (diFESOS), and its metabolites.

Atmospheric Fate of a New Polyfluoroalkyl Building Block, CFOCHFCFSCHCHOH.

Many per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been regulated or phased-out of usage due to concerns about persistence, bioaccumulation potential, and toxicity. We investigated the atmospheric fate of a new polyfluorinated alcohol 2-(1,1,2-trifluoro-2-heptafluoropropyloxy-ethylsulfanyl)-ethanol (CFOCHFCFSCHCHOH, abbreviated FESOH) by assessing the kinetics and products of the gas-phase reaction of FESOH with chlorine atoms and hydroxyl radicals. Experiments performed in a stainless-steel chamber interfaced to an FTIR were used to determine reaction kinetics and gas-phase products.

Inputs, source apportionment, and transboundary transport of pesticides and other polar organic contaminants along the lower Red River, Manitoba, Canada.

The Red River originates in the U.S., drains into Lake Winnipeg, and is a significant pathway for nutrients.

Biological Cleavage of the C–P Bond in Perfluoroalkyl Phosphinic Acids in Male Sprague-Dawley Rats and the Formation of Persistent and Reactive Metabolites.

Background: Perfluoroalkyl phosphinic acids (PFPiAs) have been detected in humans, wildlife, and various environmental matrices. These compounds have been used with perfluoroalkyl phosphonic acids (PFPAs) as surfactants in consumer products and as nonfoaming additives in pesticide formulations. Unlike the structurally related perfluoroalkyl sulfonic and carboxylic acids, little is known about the biological fate of PFPiAs.