Australian Pesticides Map

2024 May: PFAS Chemicals in Pesticides.

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PFAS chemicals in Pesticides May/July 2024

This post wants to alert readers about PFAS contamination of commonly used pesticides in Australia. It will be updated as new information comes to hand.

A major source of PFAS contamination of pesticides is likely to come from fluorinated HDPE containers. The US EPA appears to be trying to grapple with this problem, but what about Australia?
https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2022-09/EPA%20PFAS%20Container%20Leaching%20Study%2008122022_0.pdf
The other source of PFAS contamination of pesticides would be in the manufacturing processes. PFAS or related compounds are included in 70% of pesticides introduced to the global market from 2015 to 2020, according to https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0269749121018972?via%3Dihub published in January 2022.
Many pesticides are fluorinated chemicals themselves.
Many of these pesticides are registered for use in Australia, some with common applications. Many users of the chemicals will be unaware of the potential PFAS contamination issues regarding a range of pesticides that they may use.
These could include commonly used pesticides such as: Imidacloprid, Bifenthrin, Piperonyl Butoxide, Abamectin, Fipronil, Diflufenican, Trifluralin, Flutriafol, Indoxacarb and Fluroxypur.

The table below was sourced from 8 references where PFAS contamination of pesticides was published. In the list below ref refers to the reference at the bottom of the list. Pubris refers to the APVMA database which users can search for registered pesticides and ingredients in Australia. Results refer to how many products have that particular pesticide listed under Pubcris.

The most listed products include the following pesticides: Imidacloprid, Bifenthrin, Piperonyl Butoxide, Abamectin, Fipronil, Diflufenican, Trifluralin, Flutriafol, Indoxacarb and Fluroxypur.

This study published in July 2024 also highlights a list of “inert” fluorinated ingredients that are added to pesticides concoctions and that “the biggest contributor to PFAS in pesticide products was active ingredients and their degradates. Nearly a quarter of all US conventional pesticide active ingredients were organofluorines and 14% were PFAS, and for active ingredients approved in the last 10 y, this had increased to 61% organofluorines and 30% PFAS.”

These include:

1,1-Difluoroethane, 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane,

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE; Teflon), trans-1,3,3,3-Tetrafluoroprop-1-ene,

5H-1,3-Dioxolo[4,5-f]benzimidazole, 6-chloro-5-[(3,5-dimethyl-4-isoxazolyl)sulfonyl]-2,2-difluoro,

Ethene, 1,1-difluoro-, homopolymer,

Poly(oxy(methyl(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)silylene)), alpha-(trimethylsilyl)-omega((trimethylsilyl)oxy)-,

Fluorochloromethane,

Siloxanes and silicones, Me 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl,

2-Naphthalenesulfonic acid, 6-amino-4-hydroxy-5-{{2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl}azo}-, monosodium salt,

1-Butanol, 4-(ethenyloxy)-, polymer with chlorotrifluoroethene, (ethenyloxy)cyclohexane, and ethoxyethene,

Parachlorobenzotrifluoride,

Alpha-(cyclohexylmethyl)- omega-hydro-poly(difluoromethylene),

PTFE, alpha-chloro-omega-(1-chloro-1-fluoroethyl)-,

PTFE, alpha-hydro-omega-(2,2-dichloro-2-fluoroethyl)-

As new information comes to hand some of the list may be deleted. Other pesticides are also likely to be added to the list as well.

PFAS pesticides Alphabetical

Abamectin ref 7 (Pubcris 222 results). Insecticide/Parasiticides – sheep cattle drench/Cockroach Bait/insect spray

Acifluorfen ref 2, 10, 11 (Pubrcris 12 results) Herbicide

Acifluorfen-sodium ref 8, 10 (Pubcris 3 results) Active Constituent

Afoxolaner ref 10 (Pubcris 10 results)

Amisulbrom ref 10 (Pubcris 5 results)

Benzovindiflupyr ref 8, 9, 10 (Pubcris 2 results) Fungicide

Bicyclopyrone  ref 2, 8, 10, 11 (Pubcris 2 results) Herbicide/Active Constituent

Bifenthrin ref 2, 8, 10, 11 (Pubcris 304 results) Insecticide/Active Constituent – mosquito/grub/termites/lawn beetle/tick&flea/lawns/wood treatment/timber/antspreservative/cockroaches/spiders/millipede, homeguard collars, turf

Bistrifluron ref 8, 10 (Pubcris 1 result) Active Constituent

Bixafen ref 2, 8, 9, 10 (Pubcris 2 results) Active Constituent/Fungicide

Broflanilide ref 2, 4, 10, 11 (Pubcris 9 results) Insecticide. Bait, termiticide, cockroach bait, ant bait, fly bait

Bromethalin ref 2, 8, 10, 11 (9 results) Vertebrate Poison/Active Consituent

Butafenacil ref 8, 10 (Pubcris 24 results) Herbicide/Active Constituent

Carfentrazone ref 8 (Pubcris 13 results) Herbicide

carfentrazone-ethyl ref 2, 8, 10 (Pubcris 72 results) Herbicide/Actve Constituent

chlorfenapyr ref 2, 8, 10, 11 (Pubcris 7 results) Active Constituent

Chlorfluazuron ref 8, 10 (Pubcris 19 results). Insecticide/Active Constituent. Termite bait

Clodinafop ref 8, 9, 10 (Pubcris 23 results) Herbicide

clodinafop-propargyl ref 2, 8, 10 (pubcris 42 results) Herbicide/Active Constituent

Cyflufenamid ref 2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 (pubcris 3 results) Fungicide/Active Constituent

Cyflumetofen ref 2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 (pubcris 2 results) Miticide/Active Constituent

Cyfluthrin ref 2, 8, 10  (pubcris 11 results) Insecticide/Household insecticide. Ant, cockroach, flies. Litter beetle, lawn grub, wasps

Cyhalofop-butyl ref 8, 9 (pubcris 6 results) herbicide/active constituent

Cyhalothrin ref 8, 9 (pubcris 4 results) insecticide/active constituent

Cyhalothrin, lambda ref 8 (pubcris 4 results) insecticide/active constituent

Dichlofluanid ref 8, 10 (pubcris 2 results) active constituent/wood preservative

Diflubenzuron ref 2, 8, 10 (pubcris 19 results) active constituent/parasticide. Lousicide cattle and sheep, sheep dip

Diflufenican ref 5, 6, 8, 10 (pubcris167 results) herbicide/active constituent

Dithiopyr ref 2, 8, 10, 11 (pubcris 5 results) active constituent/herbicide

Epoxiconazole ref 8, 9, 10 (pubcris 74 results) fungicide/active constituent

Etoxazole ref 2, 10 (pubcris7 results) insecticide/miticide/active constituent

Fipronil ref 2, 8, 9, 10, 11 (pubcris 205 results) insecticide/household insecticide/fruit fly/dogs flea and tick/termites, cats, cockroach

Flazasulfuron ref 5, 6, 8, 11 (pubcris 2 results) active constituent/herbicide

Flamprop-methyl ref 8, 10 (pubcris 2 results) herbicide

Flamprop-M-methyl ref 8, 10 (pubcris 7 results) herbicide/active ingredient

Flazasulfuron ref 10, (Pubcris 2 results)

Flocoumafen ref 8, 10 (pubcris 8 results) Vertebrate Poison/active ingredient

Flonicamid ref 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 (pubcris 9 results) Insecticide/active ingredient

Florasulam ref 2, 8, 9, 10 (pubcris 22 results) Herbicide/active ingredient

Florpyrauxifen-benzyl ref 2, 9 (pubcris 6 results) herbicide/active ingredent

Florylpicoxamid 9 (3 results)

Fluazaindolizine ref 10 (2 results)

Fluazifop – P ref 5, 6, 8. 10 (pubcris 8 results) herbicide

Fluazifop-P-butyl ref 2, 10, 11 (pubcris 7 results) active constituent/herbicide

Fluazinam ref 2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 (pubcris 25 results) fungicide/active constituent

Fluazuron ref 8 (pubcris 29 results) parasiticide/active ingredient

Flubendazole 9 (6 results)

Flubendiamide ref 6, 8, 9, 10 (pubcris 8 results) insecticide/active ingredient

Fludioxonil ref 2, 8, 9, 10, 11 (pubcris 40 results) fungicide/active ingredient

Fluensulfone ref 2, 8, 10 (pubcris 2 results) nematicide/active ingredient

Flufenoxuron ref 8, 10 (pubcris 1 result) active constituent

Flumethrin ref 2, 6, 8, 10 (pubcris 8 results) parasiticide/active ingredient

Flumetsulam ref 2, 8, 10 (pubcris 38 results) herbicide/active ingredient

Flumiclorac-pentyl ref 8, 10 (pubcris 1 result) active constituent

Flumioxazin ref 2, 8, 9, 10 (pubcris 32 results) herbicide/active ingredient

Fluometuron ref 6, 8, 10, 11 (pubcris 19 results) herbicide/active ingredient

Fluopicolide ref 2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 (pubcris 3 results) active ingredient/fungicide

Fluopyram ref 2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 (pubcris 12 results) fungicide/active ingredient

Fluoxapiprolin 9 (2 results)

Flupropanate ref 8, 10 (pubcris 22 results) herbicide

Flupropanate-sodium ref 8, 10 (pubcris 4 results) active ingredient

Flupyradifurone ref 8, 10 (pubcris 3 results) insecticide/active ingredient

Fluquinconazole ref 8, 10 (pubcris 13 results) fungicide/active ingredient

Fluralaner ref 10 (36 results)

Fluroxypyr ref 2, 8, 9, 10 (pubcris 88 results) herbicide/active ingredient

Fluroxypyr-meptyl ref 2 (pubcris 18 results) active constituent/herbicide

Flutolanil ref 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 (pubcris 3 results) fungicide/active ingredient

Flutriafol ref 2, 8, 10 (pubcris 94 results) fungicide/active ingredient

Fluxapyroxad ref 2 8, 9, 10 (pubcris 11 results) fungicide/active ingredient

Fomesafen ref 2, 8, 9, 10, 11 (pubcris 2 results) herbicide/active ingredient

gamma-Cyhalothrin ref 2, 6, 9, 10, 11 (pubcris 3 results) insectide/active ingredient

Halauxifen ref 10 (pubcris 1 result)

Halauxifen-methyl ref 2, 9 (pubcris 8 results) herbicide/active ingredient

Haloxyfop ref 8, 9 (pubcris 51 results) herbicide

Haloxyfop-P ref 8, 10 (pubcris 28 results) herbicide/active ingredient

Haloxyfop-R ref 8 (pubcris 29 results) herbicide

Haloxyfop-P Methyl ref 10 (pubcris 27 results)

Hexaflumuron ref 2, 8, 10, 11 (pubcris 4 results) insecticide/active ingredient

Hydramethylon ref 2, 8, 10, 11 (pubcris 16 results) insecticide/active ingredient

Imidacloprid ref 1, 7 (pubcris 369 results) insecticide/parasiticide/active ingredient/household insecticide

Indaziflam ref 8, 10 (pubcris 5 results) herbicide/active ingredient

Indoxacarb ref 2, 8, 10, 11 (pubcris 94 results) household insecticide/insecticide/active ingredient

Inpyrfluxam 9 (2 results)

Ipflufenoquin 9 (2 results)

Isopyrazam ref 8, 10 (pubcris 2 results) fungicide/active ingredient

Isoxaflutole ref 2, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 (pubcris 55 results) herbicide/active ingredient

lambda-Cyhalothrin ref 2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 (pubcris 73 results) insecticide/active ingredient

Lufenuron ref 8, 9, 10 (pubcris 17 results) parasiticides/active ingredients

Malathion ref 3, 7 (pubcris 19 results) insecticide/active ingredient

Mefentrifluconazole ref 2, 5, 6, 9, 11 ( pubcris 4 results) fungicide/active ingredient

Metaflumizone ref 6, 8, 10, 11 (pubcris 2 results) insecticide/active ingredient

Methiozolin ref 2, 8, 10 (pubcris 3 results) herbicide

Metofluthrin ref 2, 8, 10 (pubcris 6 results) household insecticide/active ingredient

Methoxyfenozide ref 3 (pubcris 19 results) insecticide/active ingredient

Momfluorothrin ref 2, 10 (pubcris 3 results) household insecticide/active constituent

Norflurazon ref 2, 8, 10, 11 (pubcris 5 results) herbicide/active constituent

Novaluron ref 2, 8, 10, 11 (pubcris 7 results) insecticide/active constituent

Oxathiapiprolin ref 2, 5, 6, 8,10, 11 (pubcris 5 results) fungicide/active constituent

Oxyfluorfen ref 2, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 (pubcris 76 results) herbicide/active constituent

Penflufen ref 2, 8, 10 (pubcris 5 results) fungicide/active constituent

Penthiopyrad ref 2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 (pubcris 3 results) fungicide/active constituent

Picolinafen ref 5, 6, 8, 10 (pubcris 16 results) herbicide/active constituent

Piperonyl Butoxide ref 1 (pubcris 284 results) Household insecticide/paracitides/insecticide/miticide/active constituent

Prodiamine ref 2, 8, 10, 11 (pubcris 8 results) herbicide/active constituent

Prosulfuron ref 2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 (pubcris 3 results) active constituent/herbicide

Pydiflumetofen 9,10 (7 results)

Pyraflufen-ethyl ref 2, 8, 10 (pubcris 11 results) herbicide/active constituent

Pyrasulfotole ref 8, 10, 11 (pubcris 13 results) herbicide/active constituent

Pyroxasulfone ref 2, 8, 10, 11 ( pubcris 71 results) herbicide/active constituent

Pyroxsulam ref 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11 (pubcris 7 results) active constituent/herbicide

Quinoxyfen ref 2, 8, 10 (pubcris 6 results) fungicide/active constituent

Saflufenacil ref 2, 8, 10, 11 (pubcris 21 results) herbicide/active constituent

Sedaxane  ref 8, 10 (pubcris 5 results) fungicide/active constituent

Sodium acifluorfen ref 2 (pubcris 8 results) herbicide/active constituent

Sodium fluoride ref 8 (pubcris 7 results) mixed function pesticide/wood preservative/nutrition & metabolism

Sodium fluoroacetate ref 8, 10 (pubcris 27 results) vertebrate poison

Spinetoram ref 7 (pubcris 8 results) insecticide/active constituent

Spinosad ref 7 (pubcris 48 results) active constituent/insecticide/parasiticide/vet small animals

Sulfoxaflor ref 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 (pubcris 4 results) active constituent/insecticide

Sulfuryl fluoride PROFUME ref 8, 10 (pubcris 1 result) insecticide

Sulfuryl fluoride ref?  (4 results) insecticide/active constituent

Tau-Fluvalinate ref 5, 6, 8, 10 (pubcris 38 results) insecticide/mixed function pesticide/

Tefluthrin ref 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 (pubcris 1 result) active constituent

Tetraconazole ref 2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 (pubcris 5 results) active constituent/fungicide

Tetraniliprole ref 2, 10, 11 (pubcris 4 results) insecticide/active constituent

Thiazopyr ref 8, 10 ( pubcris 1 result) active constituent

Tiafenacil ref 2, 10, 11 (pubcris 2 results) herbicide, active constituent

Tolylfluanid ref 8, 10 (pubcris 1 result) active constituent

Transfluthrin ref 8, 10 (pubcris 53 results) insecticide/household insecticide/active constituent

Trifloxystrobin ref  2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11(pubcris 23 results) active constituent/fungicide

Trifloxysulfuron ref 8, 9, 10 (pubcris 9 results) herbicide/active constituent

Trifloxysulfuron-sodium ref 8 (pubcris 1 result) active constituent

Trifludimoxazin ref 10 (pubcris 2 results)

Triflumizole ref 2, 8, 10, 11 (pubcris 1 result) active constituent

Triflumuron ref 8, 10 (pubcris 34 results) mixed function seed treatment/insecticide/parasiticides

Trifluralin ref 2, 8, 9, 10, 11 (pubcris 123 results) herbicide/active constituent

References

1. https://civileats.com/2022/11/07/pfas-forever-chemicals-pesticides-pollution-farmland-mosquito-control-epa-inert-ingredients/

2. https://www.lrl.mn.gov/docs/2024/mandated/240221.pdf

3. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/may/07/food-pesticides-toxic-forever-chemicals-pfas

4. https://pfas-1.itrcweb.org/2-5-pfas-uses/

5. https://www.pan-uk.org/site/wp-content/uploads/PANUK_PFAS_PressRelease.pdf

6. https://www.pan-europe.info/sites/pan-europe.info/files/public/resources/reports/PFAS%20Pesticides%20report%20November%202023.pdf

7. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266691102200020X#tbl0005

8. https://fluoridealert.org/researchers/pesticide/pesticides-a-b/

9. Revisiting pesticide pollution: The case of fluorinated pesticides. Diogo A.M. Alexandrino a,b,*, C. Marisa R. Almeida a, Ana P. Mucha a,c, Maria F. Carvalho a,b

10. Supplementary Material. Current Contributions of Organofluorine Compounds to the Agrochemical Industry https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004220306593

11. July 2024: Forever Pesticides: A Growing Source of PFAS Contamination in the Environment. https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/ehp13954