EP 21 Ian Cousins Sweden "We think the PFASs are problematic because of the high persistence ...it's going to take decades to learn about all of the substances in the class..."

My guest today is Professor Ian Cousins, from the Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES), Stockholm University, Sweden. He has been studying PFAS chemicals for over 20 years, and is well known in the field for his PFAS research. The focus for today's discussion is his paper published in 2019 called "The concept of essential use for determining when use of PFASs can be phased out." Ian and his colleagues state in their paper that "A phase-out of many uses of PFASs can be implemented because they are not necessary for the betterment of society in terms of health and safety, or because functional alternatives are currently available that can be substituted into these products or applications. Some specific uses of PFASs would be considered essential because they provide for vital functions and are currently without established alternatives. However, this essentiality should not be considered as permanent; rather, constant efforts are needed to search for alternatives."

Ian also gives some detail about his latest PFAS project Perforce3, a large European funded project focusing on PFAS called Perforce3. The project will be training 15 PhD's in a wide range of aspects of PFAS science including understanding exposure and toxicology of PFAS, and solutions to remove PFAS from the environment. The project started on 1/1/2020 and . It is a collaboration between different organisations in Europe from 6 different countries and 9 Universities and 4 independent research centres. The project will continue until the end of 2023.

SHOW NOTES:

." Ian T Cousins et al 2019"The concept of essential use for determining when uses of PFASs can be phased out

"" Rainer Lohmann, Ian T. Cousins et al 2020Are Fluoropolymers really of low concern for human and environmental health and separate from other PFAS?

DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c03244

"" Juliane Gluge et al 2020An overview of the uses of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)

DOI: 10.1039/D0EM00291G

Perforce3 & Webinar on PFAS and the essential use concept

https://perforce3-itn.eu/events/perforce3-webinar-on-pfas-and-the-essential-use-concept/

Madrid Statement

Montreal Protocol Factsheet Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

Stockholm Convention & POPS