Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA)

PFBA is a short-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid and a member of the PFAS family. It contains four carbon atoms and is used or generated in connection with fluorochemical manufacturing and the degradation of longer-chain PFAS and precursor substances. Because of its relatively short carbon chain, PFBA tends to be highly mobile in water and generally bioaccumulates less than longer-chain PFAS such as PFOA. However, it is highly persistent because the carbon-fluorine bonds characteristic of PFAS resist natural degradation. PFBA can therefore migrate through groundwater and other environmental systems, making it relevant to monitoring of drinking water, industrial emissions and contaminated sites.