Perfluorooctanoic Acid MSDS: A Ground-Level Look at a Persistent Challenge

Identification

Substance: Perfluorooctanoic Acid
Chemical Formula: C8HF15O2
Other Names: PFOA, Pentadecafluorooctanoic acid
Appearance: Colorless to white, waxy solid
Uses: Manufacturing of fluoropolymers like Teflon, surfactants, stain-resistant fabrics, firefighting foams

Hazard Identification

Hazard Class: Eye, skin, and respiratory irritant; potential carcinogen
Specific Effects: Can damage the liver and immune system, disrupt hormonal activity, affect fetal development
Acute Exposure: Causes irritation of eyes, skin, respiratory tract
Chronic Exposure: Builds up in body over time, increases cancer risk, possible connection to thyroid disease, hypertension, high cholesterol
Environmental Hazards: Persistent, bioaccumulative, disrupts aquatic life

Composition / Information on Ingredients

Main Ingredient: Perfluorooctanoic Acid (C8HF15O2)
Purity: Commonly above 95% in technical grade materials
Impurities: Minor fluorochemical contaminants possible, usually at trace levels

First Aid Measures

Eye Contact: Rinse thoroughly for 15 minutes under running water, removing contact lenses if present
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing, wash exposed skin with soap and water, seek medical advice if irritation continues
Inhalation: Get person to fresh air, keep warm and at rest, medical attention recommended if symptoms appear
Ingestion: Rinse mouth, never induce vomiting, call for immediate medical evaluation
Personal Response: Anyone giving aid should avoid direct contact, use gloves and glasses if available

Fire-Fighting Measures

Suitable Extinguishing Media: Dry chemical, CO2, alcohol-resistant foam
Hazardous Combustion Byproducts: Releases toxic gases such as hydrogen fluoride and carbonyl fluoride when burned
Protective Equipment: Firefighters should wear full protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus
Fire Risks: PFOA itself rarely ignites, but nearby combustibles and release of byproducts create serious hazards in a fire

Accidental Release Measures

Personal Protection: Avoid skin and eye contact, ventilate the area, wear chemical-resistant gloves, goggles, and protective clothing
Clean Up Method: Use spill control materials such as vermiculite or sand, sweep up and collect residue in sealed containers for disposal
Environmental Caution: Prevent entry into drains, watercourses, or soil as runoff can travel long distances and pollute
Decontamination: Wash area with water and detergent, contain runoff, and handle all contaminated items as hazardous waste

Handling and Storage

Handling: Minimize dust, avoid breathing fumes or inhaling particles, wash hands and face after work, use only with adequate ventilation
Storage: Keep in tightly sealed containers, store away from incompatible materials like strong bases, oxidizing agents, or acids, avoid exposure to moisture
Special Requirements: Clearly label all containers, limit access to trained personnel, monitor for leaks regularly, maintain spill containment plans

Exposure Controls and Personal Protection

Engineering Controls: Work in fume hood or well-ventilated area, install eyewash stations and emergency showers
Personal Protection: Use chemical splash goggles, nitrile gloves, lab coats or aprons, respiratory protection as appropriate
Exposure Limits: No established OSHA or ACGIH exposure limits yet, but many organizations recommend keeping exposure as low as possible
Environmental Controls: Regularly monitor air, water, and soil in work areas, protect against accidental leaks and emissions

Physical and Chemical Properties

Appearance: Colorless to off-white solid or powder, waxy texture at room temperature
Odor: Odorless
Melting Point: 40–50°C
Boiling Point: Decomposes before reaching boiling point
Solubility: Slightly soluble in water; soluble in polar organic solvents like methanol or acetone
Stability in Sunlight: Resists breakdown, can persist for many years in the environment

Stability and Reactivity

Stability: Stable under normal conditions, but breaks down at high temperatures to release hazardous gases
Incompatibilities: Avoid strong oxidizers, strong bases, strong acids—they can trigger dangerous reactions
Hazardous Decomposition: Heating releases highly toxic fluorinated gases, including hydrogen fluoride and carbonyl fluoride
Polymerization: Unlikely under typical worksite conditions

Toxicological Information

Routes of Exposure: Swallowing, skin contact, inhalation of dust or aerosols
Acute Toxicity: Irritates skin, eyes, and respiratory tract, nausea and gastrointestinal complaints possible if swallowed
Chronic Toxicity: Linked to kidney and testicular cancer, thyroid disruption, developmental effects, liver toxicity, immune suppression—most data come from long-term animal studies, but human research points at serious risks too
Bioaccumulation: Tends to stay in the human body for years, builds up over time, slow elimination in both people and animals
Special Vulnerability: Chronic exposure means workers and local residents can show higher levels in blood and may face more health problems

Ecological Information

Persistence: PFOA resists breakdown in the environment, so it spreads in groundwater, rivers, and even the air
Bioaccumulation: Builds up in fish and wildlife, gets into the food chain, contaminates drinking water and crops
Environmental Impact: Linked to low reproduction rates, birth defects, endocrine disruption in fish and amphibians; persists far downstream from original source
Wider Effects: Detected at significant levels globally, including Arctic and Antarctic wildlife far from sources of industrial contamination

Disposal Considerations

Method: Handle as hazardous waste, incinerate at very high temperatures in facilities designed for fluorochemicals, avoid landfill disposal to limit spread
Precautions: Never release to sewer or surface waters, don’t burn in open air or regular incinerators since this creates more toxic byproducts
Sustainable Solutions: Push to develop better destruction technologies, close the loop on product recycling, support efforts to phase out use in favor of safer alternatives

Transport Information

Packing Recommendations: Use leak-proof, sealed containers, keep away from food, animal feed, combustible and reactive materials
Hazard Label: Mark as toxic, environmental hazard; many regulations require shipping as hazardous substance
Safeguards: Train handlers, keep documents up-to-date, trace shipment to limit risk of accident or illegal dumping
International Rules: Restrictions differ between countries, watch regulatory developments closely

Regulatory Information

US EPA: PFOA included under emerging contaminant guidance, subject to Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act action; national limits proposed for drinking water
EU: Featured on REACH Candidate List as Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC), general move towards phase-out
Global: Stockholm Convention placed PFOA under Annex A for elimination in many parts of the world, major multinationals phasing out use voluntarily
Worker Protection: OSHA, NIOSH, and similar bodies recommend best possible engineering controls, protective gear, and exposure monitoring
Action Steps: Push for ramped-up research into safe disposal, safer substitutes, and environmental remediation; empower communities affected by contamination to test water and seek medical surveillance