Abstract:
In 2023, European governments submitted a proposal to comprehensively ban per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), prompting a shift toward PFAS-free alternatives. However, recent research has emphasized the need for an integrated approach to chemical assessment and environmental management rather than abrupt PFAS substitution, as alternatives may pose similar or greater risks. The PFAS Guide was developed to aid corporations in this critical transition. Its goal is to simplify PFAS identification, safe substitution, and gradual elimination. This study applies the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to assess how perceived usefulness (PU) and ease of use of the PFAS Guide impact corporate intentions to adopt it. Our analysis, based on responses from 104 European companies, demonstrates a positive link between PU, ease of use, and a company\'s intent to adopt the PFAS Guide. This underscores the importance of corporations perceiving the PFAS Guide as a valuable and user-friendly resource, given its substantial impact on PFAS phase-out. Descriptive statistics revealed an interesting finding: 51.9% of the participants fell into the \"other\" group, as outlined in the PFAS Guide. This raises questions regarding the grouping of companies into various sectors. Based on our results, we propose improvements to the PFAS Guide by broadening sector representation to encompass a more diverse range of industries with sector-specific guidance, ensuring content relevance, and accentuating user experience using interactive resources. Future research should focus on the actual adoption and use of the guide to gain deeper insights into adoption rates and long-term PFAS Guide utilization. Furthermore, additional investigations should incorporate subgroup analyses, data triangulation, and a longitudinal approach to enhance our understanding of the factors that support and hinder integrated chemical assessment and environmental management. These research efforts are pivotal in guiding chemical policy and management practices, contributing to a PFAS-free future. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1-14. © 2024 The Author(s). Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
摘要:
2023年,欧洲各国政府提交了全面禁止全氟烷基和多氟烷基物质(PFAS)的提案,促使转向无PFAS的替代品。然而,最近的研究强调了化学评估和环境管理的综合方法的必要性,而不是突然的PFAS替代,因为替代品可能会带来类似或更大的风险。PFAS指南的制定是为了帮助企业进行这一关键的过渡。其目标是简化PFAS识别,安全替代,逐步消除。本研究应用技术接受模型(TAM)来评估PFAS指南的感知有用性(PU)和易用性如何影响企业采用它的意图。我们的分析,根据104家欧洲公司的回应,展示了PU之间的积极联系,易用性,以及一家公司打算采用PFAS指南。这强调了公司将PFAS指南视为宝贵且用户友好的资源的重要性,考虑到其对PFAS淘汰的重大影响。描述性统计数据揭示了一个有趣的发现:51.9%的参与者属于“其他”组,正如PFAS指南中概述的那样。这引发了有关将公司分为不同部门的问题。根据我们的结果,我们建议对PFAS指南进行改进,扩大行业代表性,以涵盖更多样化的行业,并提供针对特定行业的指导,确保内容相关性,并使用交互式资源增强用户体验。未来的研究应侧重于指南的实际采用和使用,以更深入地了解采用率和PFAS指南的长期利用率。此外,额外的调查应包括亚组分析,数据三角剖分,和纵向方法,以增强我们对支持和阻碍综合化学品评估和环境管理的因素的理解。这些研究工作对于指导化学品政策和管理实践至关重要,为无PFAS的未来做出贡献。综合环境评估管理2024;20:1-14。©2024作者(S)。由WileyPeriodicalsLLC代表环境毒理学和化学学会(SETAC)出版的综合环境评估和管理。