Modern Fluorotelomer AFFF

As its name suggests, this type of AFFF was the primary type of firefighting foam used between 2006 and 2015. After this period, manufacturers transitioned to short-chain fluorotelomer-based fluorosurfactants, commonly referred to as “C6 foams.” They are considered less toxic because they don’t break down as PFOS or PFOA. However, in particular environmental conditions, the breakdown products can include PFHxA, PFPeA, and 5:3 FTCA included in the PFAS group. Additionally, modern fluorotelomer AFFF may contain lower levels of PFOA as an unintended manufacturing impurity or byproduct. Although the C6 foams have shorter molecular chains, they persist in the environment, contaminating the soil and water we are drinking today.
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