In the world of chemical safety management, one issue that has come up as one of the most difficult is the Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, or PFASs, often referred to as “forever chemicals” because of their high persistence. Because PFASs pose such a threat, there has been the need for new solutions. In light of helping organizations, scientist researchers, or policymakers identify PFASs more easily, there is a new tool, called pfasID, offered by ChemFORWARD, which is changing the way we deal with such an important problem.
What’s PFAS
PFAS encompasses a vast group of both man-made and synthetic substances comprising thousands of different chemicals. These substances have traditionally found varied application in different commodities, such as non-stick cookware, firefighting foam, food packaging, to name but a few, and water-resistant clothing. The name “forever chemicals” has been derived due to their notoriously slow rate of dissipation within the environment, with possible effects on human health and ecology.
With the progress made in scientific research and increasing awareness, regulatory agencies from across the globe are starting to implement stricter regulations to limit or even prohibit the use of PFAS.
The Emergence of pfasID
pfasID: The major output of PFACTS (Faster Solutions for Forever Chemicals) is an initiative that was funded with $5 million from the Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships Directorate of the National Science Foundation with the aim of addressing the challenges associated with PFC chemicals. The PFACTS initiative is an IBM-led collaboration of university and industry partners and non-profit organizations such as ChemFORWARD; the major goals of this initiative:
- Make the identification of PFAS chemicals and materials simpler
- Speed the process of finding safer alternatives for PFAS chemicals utilizing generative artificial intelligence
- Suggest materials based on current technology capable of capturing PFAS at manufacturing sources until alternatives become available
As Co-Founder and Executive Director at ChemFORWARD, Stacy Glass highlights: “Users are able to, and can start to have an immediate impact on human health and the environment because they are able to quickly identify which of their products contain PFAS.”
Basic Functions of pfasID
1. Multi-Dimensional Screening System
pfasID has a two-pronged screening system to enable full and correct identification through:
List Screening: Screens chemicals against lists found in authoritative databases such as:
- US EPA PFAS Lists
- OECD Global Database of PFAS
Structural Screening: It checks the chemical structure for similarity to the predefined structures of PFAS from various companies using the SMILES string format:
- European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) definition
- OECD definition
- USA EPA definition
- Barnabas 2022
2. Clear Result Indicator System
This instrument has direct risk indicators for each chemical listed:
- Pass: Chemical not listed on OECD or USEPA PFAS lists and lacks structural alerts
- Fail: Chemical listed on OECD Comprehensive Global Database and/or USEPA PFAS lists
- Warning: Possible presence of PFAS according to chemical definition
- Insufficient Structural Information: Unable to determine PFAS status
3. Features for Project Management and Collaboration
pfasID is more than just a single inquiry solution; in fact, it is a fully functional project management tool:
- Project portfolios can be created by users for managing screening systematically
- Gain access to detailed chemical data
- Create Excel-based project reports
- Produce professional reports for B2B communications for businesses
These characteristics facilitate collaboration by the supply chain partners towards ensuring products are notationiously treated with PFAS.
The Importance of pfasID
Addressing Regulatory Challenges
Among the greatest difficulties facing the treatment of PFAS at the present time is the existence of non-uniform definitions of PFAS. While some states, for example Maine and the state of Washington, have restricted all types of PFAS from food contact materials altogether, the Danish government has forbidden the use of PFAS in paper food packaging.
Through the combination of various definitions and standards by regulators, it assists organizations in detecting potential risks at an early stage in product development and in this way ensures that organizations:
- Streamlining compliance procedures
- Minimizing product recall risks
- Saving time and resources
Core to this act was the establishment of Supply Chain Transparency
This tool is usable by the “entire value chain,” including the following:
- Manufacturers: Assess risks of PFAS contamination of products in design stage
- Suppliers: Check for PFAS status of raw materials
- Buyers: Review materials from suppliers
- Policymakers: Establish science-based policies for regulation
- Investigators: Encourage PFAS-related investigations
Encouraging Preventive Management
As Jed Pitera, Strategy Co-lead for Sustainable Materials at IBM Research, says: “The PFAS issue is such a complex multidimensional problem—it’s beyond the capabilities of humans alone.”
The leakage of the pfasID is a pivotal shift from reaction to protection in advance. This is because companies can sidestep regulatory hurdles through the early detection of PFAS in product development.
Technological Innovation and Continuous Development
PfasID has been developed on IBM’s world-class technology foundation. IBM researchers have used the underlying technology of this tool to develop ‘Safer Materials Advisor,’ which is an enterprise-level AI solution to speed up analysis for PFAS in chemical materials by two-thirds than previous methods.
More significantly, pfasID is a continually updating resource, responding to changing regulatory frameworks and scientific knowledge. The software will continually develop new lists and definitions to keep it current and up-to-date with current regulatory standards and scientific know-how and knowledge.
How to Use pfasID
Working with pfasID is easy and intuitive:
- Access the Platform: Go to www.pfasID.org and register an account
- Add Chemical Information: Enter a chemical name or CAS Number
- Receive Results: The process automatically carries out list and structural screenings
- Review Detailed Analysis: Recognize which definitions contributed to the outcome
- Generate and Share Reports: Reports can be generated for communication with supply chain partners
Being an entirely free resource, the pfasID toolkit removes technical and economic barriers to the identification of PFAS, allowing companies of any size to act towards protecting human and environmental health.
Looking to the Future
The development of pfasID makes a milestone achievement for the PFACTS project. This is seen because the tool not only addresses the long-awaited need for PFAS identification but also sets the pace for new innovations. Moving forward during the course of the project, new tools such as the utilization of generative AI for PFAS alternatives and materials for PFAS capture from industries will be developed by the PFACTS team.
pfasID encourages all stakeholders to join the effort of cooperation to develop this resource. As new regulations develop, new lists of definitions will be added to pfasID to ensure pfasID continues to be the definitive answer to the “forever chemicals” puzzle.
Conclusion
In the struggle towards the elimination of the negative effects of toxic chemicals and the promotion of safe chemistry, pfasID is an unprecedented display of technological advancement and responsiveness to the environment. With the availability of an accurate PFAS identifier, the entire supply chain is being motivated by the project, PFACTS, and ChemFORWARD towards the promotion of a safe and sustainable future.
As described by Stacy Glass, ‘identification could potentially be 70% of passing PFAS.’ This vision has been encapsulated in pfasID’s approach to paving the way to a cleaner future, with a simple but strategic step at the start of this journey.
To find more and apply or register for access, please visit: www.pfasID.org
