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Long-Chain Perfluorocarboxylic Acids (PFCAs) that Contain from 9 to 20 Carbon Atoms (C₉-C₂₀), Their Salts and Their Precursors

• Adding Substances to Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act
• Final Ecological Screening Assessment and Proposed Risk Management Approach
• Draft Ecological Screening Assessment and Risk Management Scope

Adding Substances to Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act

Long-chain (C₉-C₂₀) perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs), their salts and their precursors were determined to meet one or more of the criteria in section 64 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) and therefore were proposed to be added to Schedule 1.

• Proposed Order adding long-chain (C₉-C₂₀) PFCAs, their salts, and their precursors:  Canada Gazette, Part I, Vol. 146, No. 39 – September 29, 2012 ( PDF Version - 904 K).

Final Ecological Screening Assessment and Proposed Risk Management Approach

In August 2012, the  Final Ecological Screening Assessment Report on Long-chain (C₉-C₂₀) Perfluorocarboxylic Acids (PFCAs), their Salts, and their Precursors was released and the related Notice was published in the   Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 146, No. 34 - August 25, 2012 ( PDF Version - 1434 K).

The final ecological screening assessment concluded that long-chain (C₉-C₂₀) PFCAs, their salts, and their precursors meet one or more of the criteria in section 64 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999).

Additionally, it is concluded that long-chain (C₉-C₂₀) PFCAs and their salts meet the criteria for persistence but does not meet the criteria for bioaccumulation potential set out in the  Persistence and Bioaccumulation Regulations. Nevertheless, the weight of evidence is sufficient to conclude that long-chain (C₉-C₂₀) PFCAs and their salts accumulate and biomagnify in terrestrial and marine mammals.

A  Proposed Risk Management Approach on Long-chain (C₉-C₂₀) Perfluorocarboxylic Acids (PFCAs), their Salts, and their Precursors was also released on August 25, 2012 for a 60-day public comment period.

Information on how to submit comments is provided in the Canada Gazette Notice.

Draft Ecological Screening Assessment and Risk Management Scope

In October, 2010, the draft Ecological Screening Assessment Report on long-chain (C₉-C₂₀) perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs), their salts, and their precursors was released and the related Notice was published in the  Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 144 No. 44 - October 30, 2010 ( PDF Version - 1,091 K) for a 60-day public comment period. A risk management scope document was also released in conjunction with this publication.

The draft ecological screening assessment report of 14 precursors to long-chain (C₉-C₂₀) PFCAs, their salts, and their precursors (CAS Nos. 678-39-7, 65530-63-4, 65530-66-7, 65530-71-4, 65530-72-5, 65530-74-7, 65605-58-5, 65605-70-1, 65636-35-3, 68239-43-0, 68391-08-2, 68412-68-0, 110053-43-5 and 115592-83-1), was conducted under sections 68 and 74 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) because they were found to meet the ecological categorization criteria for persistence and/or bioaccumulation potential and inherent toxicity to non-human organisms.

The draft ecological screening assessment of long-chain (C₉-C₂₀) PFCAs, their salts, and their precursors was conducted under section 68 of CEPA 1999 because they were not found to meet the categorization criteria, or they were not categorized since they do not appear on the Domestic Substances List (DSL).

The draft ecological screening assessment report proposes to conclude that long-chain (C₉-C₂₀) PFCAs, their salts, and their precursors are entering the environment in concentrations or quantities or under conditions that pose a risk to the environment. Therefore, long-chain (C₉-C₂₀) PFCAs, their salts, and their precursors meet one or more of the criteria set out in section 64 of CEPA 1999. The Ministers of the Environment and of Health therefore propose to add these substances to Schedule 1 of the Act.

The public comments received were considered and addressed within the final screening assessment report, and a  Summary Table of Public Comments Received on the Draft Screening Assessment Report on Long-Chain (C₉-C₂₀) Perfluorocarboxylic Acids (PFCAs), their Salts, and their Precursors is available.

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