EPA Research Partner Support Story: Understanding VOC and air emissions from PTFE product manufacturing facilities
Partner: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)
Challenge: Understanding VOC and air emissions from PTFE product manufacturing facilities
Resource: Sampling and analysis (both targeted and non-targeted) of air emissions from PTFE manufacturing facilities
Project Period: 2018 – 2020
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemicals that include, among others, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), and GenX. There is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse human health effects. PFOA is a PFAS that was widely used as a processing aid to manufacture nonstick coatings (polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE]) and other fluoropolymers. PFAS manufacturing facilities may emit PFAS and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air.
"As PFAS are a significant concern, better understanding air emissions at a facility that uses PFAS to manufacture products is very helpful. Knowing what chemicals are emitted will help NYSDEC characterize PFAS emissions and determine the need for the installation of air pollution controls. Our collaborative work with EPA on this project was invaluable." – NYSDEC Research Scientist Tom Gentile
At the request of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), scientists from EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) conducted an independent study to qualitatively identify PFAS and PTFE thermal degradation products in air emissions at a manufacturing facility in New York State where bulk PTFE is molded and sintered.
ORD scientists collected air emission samples from the process exhaust at the industrial facility and used targeted and nontargeted laboratory analytical methods to qualitatively analyze the samples for VOCs, PTFE thermal degradation products, and water-soluble PFAS compounds. Investigating the potential presence of PFOA was the primary targeted measurement of interest. PFOA was determined to not be present in any of the process exhaust emissions measurements.
EPA shared a report of its study with NYSDEC. The information was also shared by NYSDEC with local elected officials and the public at a community meeting. The information helped NYSDEC characterize PFAS emissions from a PTFE manufacturing facility that processes raw PTFE powdered resins into final products. The qualitative analysis and other factors were used to assess the need for air pollution controls on this process operation.