Jump to content

GenX

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 204.62.25.101 (talk) at 21:42, 22 November 2019 (→See also). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

For other uses, see Gen X (disambiguation).

GenX is a DuPont trademark name for a chemical process and a chemical. The chemical process uses 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy)propanoic acid (FRD-903) and produces 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy)propanoate (FRD-902) and heptafluoropropyl 1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl ether (E1). [1] The term GenX is also used to refer to the ammonium salt of HFPO-DA fluoride. [2]

The chemicals are used in products such as food packaging, paints, cleaning products, non-stick coatings, outdoor fabrics and firefighting foam.[3] The chemicals are manufactured by Chemours, a corporate spin-off of DuPont, in Fayetteville, North Carolina.[4]

GenX chemicals are used as replacements for PFOA (C8) for manufacturing fluoropolymers such as teflon.[5][6]

PFOA and related compounds have been found to be toxic and carcinogenic.[7]

In lab tests on rats, GenX has been shown to cause many of the same health problems as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).[8][9]

Chemistry

GenX is a DuPont trademark name for a chemical process and a chemical. It can also be used more informally to refer to a mixture of related fluorochemicals that are found in point source pollution of a GenX production facility, such as at the The Chemours plant on the Cape Fear River in North Carolina, United States. [2]

The chemical process uses 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy)propanoic acid (FRD-903) and produces 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy)propanoate (FRD-902) and heptafluoropropyl 1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl ether (E1). [10] The term GenX is also used to refer to the ammonium salt of HFPO-DA fluoride.[2]

Pollution

The Chemours Fayetteville plant has released GenX compounds into the Cape Fear River, which is a drinking water source for the Wilmington, North Carolina area. The water supply may have been contaminated for a decade or more, resulting in controversy over its potential health effects.[11]

On September 5, 2017, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) ordered Chemours to halt discharges of all fluorinated compounds into the Cape Fear River. NCDEQ cited Chemours on November 14, 2017 for violating provisions in its NPDES wastewater discharge permit, following a chemical spill on October 6.[12]

On November 2, 2017, a federal lawsuit was filed by the Brunswick County Government alleging that DuPont failed to disclose research regarding potential risks from the chemical.[13]

On May 7, 2018, Cape Fear River Watch announced their intention to bring suit against Chemours in 60 days for numerous Clean Water Act violations. Acting as legal counsel, Southern Environmental Law Center filed the suit under section 505(b) of the Clean Water Act. A non-profit organization in Wilmington, North Carolina, Cape Fear River Watch (CFRW) aims to protect and improve the water quality of the Lower Cape Fear River Basin through education, advocacy and action.[14]

NCDEQ filed a draft consent order on its GenX investigation on November 21, 2018. The order would require Chemours to reduce air pollution emissions and water pollution discharges of GenX and other chemicals, and would levy civil penalties on the company of $13 million. The North Carolina Superior Court has not ruled on the proposed settlement as of mid-December 2018.[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ "DuPont GenX Processing Aid for Making Fluoropolymer Resins" (PDF). 2016-02-09. Retrieved 2019-08-21.
  2. ^ a b c Hogue, Cheryl (2018-02-12). "What's GenX still doing in the water downstream of a Chemours plant?". American Chemical Society (ACS). Retrieved 2019-08-21.
  3. ^ "Basic Information on PFAS". PFOA, PFOS and Other PFASs. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 2018-02-18.
  4. ^ "GenX Frequently Asked Questions" (PDF). GenX Investigation. Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ). 2018-02-15.
  5. ^ Beekman, M.; Zweers, P. (2016-12-12). "Evaluation of substances used in the GenX technology by Chemours, Dordrecht". National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM, The Netherlands). Retrieved 2017-07-23. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |displayauthors= ignored (|display-authors= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ "What is the difference between PFOA, PFOS and GenX and other replacement PFAS?". PFOA, PFOS and Other PFASs. EPA. 2018-02-18.
  7. ^ "Perfluoroalkyl acids: a review of monitoring and toxicological findings" (PDF). Toxicol. Sci. 99 (2): 366–94. October 2007. doi:10.1093/toxsci/kfm128. PMID 17519394. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)
  8. ^ Caverly Rae, JM; Craig, Lisa; Stone, Theodore W.; Frame, Steven R.; Buxton, L. William; Kennedy, Gerald L. (2015). "Evaluation of chronic toxicity and carcinogenicity of ammonium 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy)-propanoate in Sprague–Dawley rats". Toxicology Reports. 2: 939–949. doi:10.1016/j.toxrep.2015.06.001. PMC 5598527.
  9. ^ Lerner, Sharon (2016-03-03). "New Teflon Toxin Causes Cancer in Lab Animals". The Intercept. Retrieved 2018-12-14.
  10. ^ "DuPont GenX Processing Aid for Making Fluoropolymer Resins" (PDF). 2016-02-09. Retrieved 2019-08-21.
  11. ^ "N.C. drinking water tainted with chemical byproduct for decades?". CBS News. 2017-06-26.
  12. ^ "GenX Timeline". NCDEQ. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
  13. ^ Clabby, Catherine (2017-11-02). "Newest GenX Lawsuit Attacks DuPont Science". Chapel Hill, NC: North Carolina Health News.
  14. ^ Alder, Cole (2018-05-18). "Cape Fear River Watch to file suit against Chemours". Boston, MA: Northeastern University SSEHRI PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES The Social Discovery of a Class of Emerging Contaminants.
  15. ^ "Consert Order (draft): North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality v. The Chemours Company" (PDF). NCDEQ. 2018-11-21. Bladen County, North Carolina Superior Court.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=GenX&oldid=927501659"