GenX

This article is about the organic chemical. For the open source energy system model, see open energy system models § GenX. For other uses, see GenX (disambiguation).

GenX is a Chemours trademark name for a synthetic, short-chain organofluorine chemical compound, the ammonium salt of hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA). It can also be used more informally to refer to the group of related fluorochemicals that are used to produce GenX.[1][2] DuPont began the commercial development of GenX in 2009 as a replacement for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA, also known as C8), in response to legal action due to the health effects and ecotoxicity of PFOA.[3][4][5]

Although GenX was designed to be less persistent in the environment compared to PFOA, it has proven to be a "regrettable substitute".[6] Its effects may be equally harmful or even more detrimental than those of the chemical it was meant to replace.[7][6][8]

GenX is one of many synthetic organofluorine compounds collectively known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs).

  1. ^ "C3 Dimer Acid and PFAS". Chemours. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference RIVM was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Hogue, Cheryl (2018-02-12). "What's GenX still doing in the water downstream of a Chemours plant?". American Chemical Society (ACS). Retrieved 2019-08-21.
  4. ^ Gillam, Carey (2023-06-02). "Top US chemical firms to pay $1.2bn to settle water contamination lawsuits". the Guardian. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  5. ^ Rich, Nathaniel (2016-01-06). "The Lawyer Who Became DuPont's Worst Nightmare". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  6. ^ a b Ahearn, Ashley (2019-03-24). "A Regrettable Substitute: The Story of GenX". Podcasts: The Researcher's Perspective. 2019 (1). doi:10.1289/EHP5134. ISSN 2169-2181.
  7. ^ "US EPA deems two GenX PFAS chemicals more toxic than PFOA". Chemical & Engineering News. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  8. ^ "Fact Sheet: Human Health Toxicity Assessment for GenX Chemicals" (PDF). United States Environmental Protection Agency. March 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2024.