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Designated fluorinated chemical

Legal definition 

means an industrial chemical that contains a sequence of atoms (whether linear, branched or cyclic) to which all of the following paragraphs apply: 
a)    subject to paragraph (b), the sequence consists only of at least 4, but no more than 20, fluorinated carbon atoms, none of which are fluorinated carbon atoms that are part of conjugated double bonds; 
b)    if the sequence is broken in any place, the break consists only of a single atom or single substituted atom;
c)    the sequence includes at least one perfluorinated methyl group (CF3) or perfluorinated methylene group (CF2).

Fluorinated carbon atom means a carbon atom attached to at least one fluorine atom.

More information

For a chemical to meet the definition of a ‘designated fluorinated chemical’:

  • the sequence of carbon atoms can be linear, branched, or cyclic.
  • the sequence must consist only of at least 4, but maximum 20 fluorinated carbon atoms.
  • the sequence can include multiple breaks by a single atom (such as O or S) or substituted atom (such as C=O)
  • the chemical can be polyfluorinated, provided the sequence contains at least one perfluorinated methyl group (CF3) or perfluorinated methylene group (CF2)
  • fluorinated carbon atoms that are part of conjugated double bonds are not counted as part of the sequence. 

Conjugated double bonds could include aromatic carbons.

Step 4.1 Introductions that are always medium to high risk for human health

Step 5.1: Introductions that are always medium to high risk to the environment

Categorisation of fluorinated chemicals

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