11月10日提交的一份的诉讼指出，已有证据表明西德普特福德工厂的含氟产品生产过程中存在广泛的PFAS污染。但该工厂目前的所有者索尔维“一再拒绝服从”新泽西州监管机构的指示，即调查污染并支付对被PFAS污染的饮用水的处理费用，该报告称，污染仍在蔓延。

根据报道，阿科玛在20世纪80年代中期建成了该工厂。1985年，该公司开始使用全氟壬酸（PFNA），全氟辛酸（PFOA），全氟十一烷酸和其他PFAS的混合物生产含氟产品，包括含氟聚合物Kynar。1990年，阿科玛将该工厂出售给了索尔维。

索尔维在西德普福德工厂生产的含氟产品包括Tecnoflon系列含氟弹性体和全氟弹性体。该州表示，自1990年以来，该公司已在当地使用并释放了数千公斤的PFAS。

该诉讼称，索尔维于2010年停止在该工厂使用PFNA和PFOA，目前可能使用氯全氟聚醚羧酸盐作为替代品。根据今年发表的一项研究(Science 2020, DOI: 10.1126/science.aba7127)，美国环境保护署和新泽西州环境保护局的研究人员利用质谱技术，在工厂附近的土壤中发现了10种新化合物，这些化合物与PFOA和PFNA具有相似的毒性。

该州表示，索尔维声称其在西德普特福德工厂使用的PFAS的化学特性属于商业机密。新泽西州正在要求州法院命令苏威公司明确这些化合物，与州政府共享这些化学物质从工厂释放的信息，并为其提供健康和安全数据。该州还希望该公司提供这些物质的分析标准。而索尔维在给定的期限内还没有回应置评请求。

Seeking PFAS cleanup, New Jersey sues Solvay and Arkema

State seeks information about chloroperfluoropolyether carboxylates

A suit filed Nov. 10 points to evidence of widespread PFAS pollution from the manufacture of fluoroproducts at a West Deptford plant. But Solvay, its current owner, “has repeatedly refused to comply with” directives from New Jersey regulators to investigate the pollution and pay for treatment of PFAS-contaminated drinking water, the suit says. The pollution continues to spread, it adds.

Arkema built the plant in the mid-1980s. In 1985, it began using a mixture of perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluoroundecanoic acid, and other PFAS as it made fluoroproducts, including the fluoropolymer Kynar, according to the suit. Arkema sold the plant to Solvay in 1990.

Solvay manufactures fluoroproducts, including Tecnoflon fluoroelastomers and perfluoroelastomers, at the West Deptford facility. The company has used and released thousands of kilograms of PFAS there since 1990, the state says.

In 2010, Solvay quit using PFNA and PFOA at the plant, the suit says. Solvay now likely uses chloroperfluoropolyether carboxylates as a replacement, according to the state. Researchers from the US Environmental Protection Agency and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection used mass spectrometry to discover 10 of these novel compounds in soil near the plant, according to a study published earlier this year (Science 2020, DOI:10.1126/science.aba7127). These compounds have similar toxicity to PFOA and PFNA, New Jersey says.

Solvay claims the chemical identity of the PFAS it uses at the West Deptford plant as a trade secret, the state says. New Jersey is asking a state court to order Solvay to identify these compounds, share information with the state about releases of these chemicals from the facility, and provide health and safety data for them. The state also wants the company to provide analytical standards for the substances.

Solvay did not respond to a request for comment before C&EN’s deadline.