Desflurane
Summary
Persistence. Desflurane, as well as its metabolite trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), is potentially persistent.
Bioaccumulation. Desflurane, as well as TFA, has a low potential for bioaccumulation.
Toxicity. Desflurane, TFA, has low chronic toxicity.
Risk. The use of desflurane, TFA, (sales data Sweden 2022) has been considered to result in insignificant environmental risk.
"Due to the prescribed application regime of the medicine and its physical-chemical properties, the parent compound desflurane (CAS 57041-67-5) is mainly emitted to the air compartment. Indeed, a minor amount of desflurane and its metabolites fluoride and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) are maybe emitted down-the-drain. Only the latter releases, parent and metabolite, have been examined in the following risk classification. Thus, only the potential risk to the aquatic compartment is addressed here."
This summary information comes from fass.se.
Detailed information
Fass environmental information
Fass environmental information for Suprane (desfluran) from Baxter (retrieved on 2025-06-17).
Hazard
Persistence: "Based on the information that desflurane as well as its metabolite TFA are not readily biodegradable, and reliable simulation studies are not available, the phrase "desflurane is potentially persistent" is thus chosen." For details, see Fass.
Bioaccumulation: Desflurane: estimated Log Dow = 1.88 at pH 7. TFA: estimated Log Dow = - 2.4 at pH 7.
Toxicity: There are data for 3 trophic levels, most sensitive algae EC10 5600 microg/L.
Risk
PEC/PNEC is based on sales data in Sweden in year 2022. PEC/PNEC for TFA = 0.000000024 which gives the risk insignificant." Overall, the distinct difference to the action limit for the parent compound as well as the low risk characterization ratio for the metabolite justifies the phrase "Use of desflurane has been considered to result in insignificant risk."
References
Author: Health and Medical Care Administration, Region Stockholm