standOff, and the article is at its publisher via the link below. When we have changed our mind. Some entries in the table begin with a word in capitals and the reason for it. EVIDENCE CORRECTED — the finding still stands, but we had quoted the wrong sentence from the paper, and the quotation has been replaced with the right one. RETRACTED — the entry itself was wrong; it stays on the page, marked, with the reason, rather than being deleted. WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED — the entry was wrong, and a corrected version of it appears in the entries below. Each mark carries its own reason, in brackets, because the reasons differ from one entry to the next. An entry we have WITHDRAWN is removed from this page and kept in the record, with its reason. A line reading Audit and a date is a later re-reading of the entry against its whole sentence: DOUBTFUL means it was kept, and the reason says what is loose about it. Quotation marks inside the tagger's sentence. Where a tag is the tagger's own sentence, a phrase in quotation marks inside it is borrowed from the paper — the tagger's wording around it is not. The paper's own sentence is the evidence quote for that row; on this page it is withheld with the article, and the article is at its publisher. Nothing inside quotation marks anywhere on this page is ours: if it is quoted, it is the paper's. Whose words a concept carries. A concept entry records a term the paper itself uses, so the term, the sense given for it, and its evidence are the paper's own words, quoted where the paper fixes them. This is the opposite of a sense entry in the tag table, which is the tagger's sentence about how the paper uses a term. Where a concept entry could not be grounded in the paper's words, the entry says so on its own row.| relation to other work | claim_relations | how this paper stands to another: agrees, contradicts, extends, qualifies |
| claim type | claim_type | the shape of the claim: existence, mechanism, method, critique, prediction, null |
| concept edge | concept_edges | an asserted relation between two concepts, with the sentence asserting it |
| concept | concepts | an idea the paper works with, quoted where the paper uses it |
| content tag | content_tags | a finding, definition, quantity, statistic or variable named in the paper |
| contribution | contribution | what the paper claims to add |
| control | controls | an experiment run to eliminate a rival explanation |
| limitation | limitations | what the paper says its evidence cannot support |
| mechanism | mechanisms | how the reported effect is said to come about |
| method | method | how the paper produced its evidence |
| object of study | object_of_study | what the paper is about — the thing it investigates |
| phenomenon | phenomenon | the effect or regularity under study |
| research question | research_question | the question the paper sets itself |
| sense | senses | a distinct use of a term, quoted where the paper fixes it |
Relations on this page carry a quotation for the claim. Where a relation was separately evidenced — and so tested against the vocabulary for its type — the row says so; 3 of 3 relations here carry that mark. The rest are the tagger’s reading of the sentence quoted beside them.
| facet | tag | field | conf. | whose words |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| object_of_study | A NOMENCLATURE, WRITTEN DOWN BECAUSE THE FIELD'S NAMES HAD STOPPED REFERRING RELIABLY - 42 families and 268 compounds given recommended names, acronyms and structural formulas so that industry, science and regulators can mean the same substances by the same words Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | object_of_study | the paper's words | |
| research_question | what to call these substances, when one compound has several names, one acronym has several referents, and one acronym is already taken by a treaty Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | research_question | the paper's words | |
| contribution | the PFAS/PFC split, definitions of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a fluorinated-polymer/fluoropolymer distinction, an OECD-based numeric definition of 'long-chain', and a table of correct and incorrect usages Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | contribution | the paper's words | |
| claim_type | method Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | claim_type | the paper's words | |
| phenomenon | a vocabulary that grew faster than its referents could be pinned down - over 400 papers a year using names that had never been agreed Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | phenomenon | the paper's words | |
| method | expert-consensus Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. also in: expert-consensus | method | the paper's words | |
| mechanisms | THE PUBLISHED RULE FOR WHEN TWO FIELDS MAY SHARE AN ACRONYM: `many authors began using the acronym PFC and have defined it in many different ways. As a result, the meaning of the acronym PFC is unclear and not well defined ... the acronym PFC has been used in official KYOTO PROTOCOL documents since 1997 to specifically designate PERFLUOROCARBONS. Quotation withheld.` A criterion for tolerable homonymy - distance between the spheres, not the collision itself Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | mechanisms[0] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| mechanisms | AND BOTH DIRECTIONS OF THE MANY-TO-MANY FAILURE, IN ONE SENTENCE: `a given compound has often been denoted by a variety of different names and acronyms, or a given acronym has been used to represent different substances. In addition, names to describe broad groups of substances have proliferated that in some instances mistakenly portray substances that are very different from one another as being the same. As a result, the scientific literature for these substances has at times become confusing.` One name to many things, one thing to many names, and a third failure where the GROUP name asserts a false identity Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | mechanisms[1] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| mechanisms | AND THE NOMENCLATURE COMPROMISES CORRECTNESS AGAINST INSTALLED USAGE, ON PURPOSE: `We have nevertheless refrained from creating an all new nomenclature but have retained - as far as possible - the most popular terms and acronyms used by authors to date. In other words, our proposals result from A pragmatic compromise among textbook and/OR IUPAC CHEMICAL NOMENCLATURE, UNIVERSAL CONSISTENCY, AND FREQUENTLY ADOPTED `LEGACY` USAGE.` The same decision EWGSOP made keeping `sarcopenia`, stated here as a three-way trade-off with the axes named Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | mechanisms[2] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| mechanisms | AND TWO NOMENCLATURES COEXIST BY A DECLARED DIVISION OF LABOUR: `the substance terminology, names and acronyms proposed in this article are IN NO WAY INTENDED TO COMPETE WITH OR SUPPLANT IUPAC OR CAS NOMENCLATURE. The latter names are the designations of choice when A specific substance needs to be unequivocally identified, e.g., in official regulatory documents. Our intention is to provide terminology ... for pragmatic everyday use.` One vocabulary for identification, one for conversation, and the second says so - with the worked example running from a 58-character IUPAC name to the acronym EtFOSE Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | mechanisms[3] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| mechanisms | AND AN IDENTIFIER IS OFFERED AS THE REPAIR FOR A NAME: `Rigor can always be ensured by appending the appropriate CAS Registry Number when each compound is first mentioned in a publication. We encourage this practice and provide CAS numbers for many commonly discussed compounds.` The convenient name is allowed to be imprecise because a precise key travels beside it Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | mechanisms[4] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| mechanisms | AND A THRESHOLD IS ADOPTED SPECIFICALLY TO REMOVE SUBJECTIVITY: `PFASs ... are frequently referred to as `LONG-CHAIN` or `SHORT-CHAIN`. To avoid any subjectivity associated with these adjectives, we urge scientists to adopt the definition provided by the OECD` - eight carbons and greater for the carboxylic acids, SIX for the sulfonates. Two numbers for one adjective, in one paper Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | mechanisms[5] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| mechanisms | AND THE TWO NUMBERS DIFFER FOR AN EMPIRICAL REASON, NOT A CHEMICAL ONE: `The `LONG-CHAIN` DEFINITIONS FOR PFCAs AND PFSAs are different in number of C ATOMS BECAUSE a PFSA with a given number of carbons HAS A greater tendency to bioconcentrate and/OR BIOACCUMULATE than a PFCA with the same number of C atoms.` The class boundary tracks the behaviour the regulators care about, so one word carries two thresholds Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | mechanisms[6] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| mechanisms | AND LEGACY USAGE IS ENCODED DELIBERATELY IN A SUBSET RULE: `In compliance with time-honored usage within the industry, we recommend further that the term `FLUOROPOLYMERS` be applied only to a distinct subset of fluorinated polymers, namely, those made by (co)polymerization of olefinic monomers ... to form a carbon-only polymer backbone with F atoms directly attached to it.` The narrower term is kept narrow because the industry already uses it that way Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | mechanisms[7] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| mechanisms | AND FOUR WORDS ARE DECLARED INTERCHANGEABLE WITH A NAMED EXCEPTION: `the terms `SUBSTANCE,` `COMPOUND,` `CHEMICAL,` AND `SPECIES` ARE USED INTERCHANGEABLY for designating a given molecular structure, although it is recognized that in other contexts their meanings may not be identical. For example, in the European REACH legislation, a `SUBSTANCE` may include impurities and stabilizers in addition to the main constituent.` A local synonymy declared, scoped, and shown where it fails Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | mechanisms[8] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| mechanisms | A NEW AXIS FOR NAME-SPLITTING: LANGUAGE OF PUBLICATION. `Quotation withheld.` Every other split in this corpus runs across disciplines or across time. This one runs across a language boundary, and an English-language review has to name both to be searchable. Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | mechanisms[9] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| mechanisms | AND A SCIENTIFIC DEFINITION DEFERRING EXPLICITLY TO COMMERCIAL CUSTOM: `Quotation withheld.` The justification is neither composition nor function nor measurability - it is INCUMBENT USAGE IN A COMMERCIAL COMMUNITY, and the paper gives it as sufficient reason. Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | mechanisms[10] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| limitations | THE NOMENCLATURE HAS TO COVER MORE THAN IT LISTS: `Quotation withheld` `Selected` is the load-bearing word: the families are enumerable, the compounds are not Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | limitations[0] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| limitations | AND THE NAMES SIT ON TOP OF A COMBINATORIAL PROBLEM: `PFOS is routinely present in many environmental samples AS A mixture of the linear isomer and 10 BRANCHED ISOMERS, WHEREAS 89 congeners are theoretically possible.` One recommended name covers eleven observed substances out of eighty-nine possible ones Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | limitations[1] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| limitations | and the field it is trying to standardise was already producing over four hundred papers a year: `the scientific literature on the environmental and toxicological aspects of PFASs has burgeoned rapidly, and the rate of publication currently exceeds 400 articles per year` - a decade after the first reports. The nomenclature arrives after the usage it must harmonise Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | limitations[2] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| controls | retaining the most popular existing terms and acronyms instead of minting a new system Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. eliminates: a correct nomenclature nobody adopts - the failure mode of every naming reform · outcome: partial | controls[0] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| controls | appending the CAS Registry Number when a compound is first mentioned Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. eliminates: ambiguity in the short convenient name, without making the short name longer · outcome: held | controls[1] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| controls | adopting the OECD's numeric definition of 'long-chain' rather than the adjective Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. eliminates: 'any subjectivity associated with these adjectives' · outcome: held | controls[2] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| concepts | PFAS Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. also in: PFAS | concepts[0] | 0.95 | the paper's words |
| concepts | PFC Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. also in: PFC | concepts[1] | 0.95 | the paper's words |
| concepts | fluoropolymers Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. also in: fluoropolymers | concepts[2] | 0.95 | the paper's words |
| concepts | fluorinated polymers Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. also in: fluorinated polymers | concepts[3] | 0.95 | the paper's words |
| concepts | PFCAs Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. also in: PFCAs | concepts[4] | 0.95 | the paper's words |
| concepts | PFSAs Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. also in: PFSAs | concepts[5] | 0.95 | the paper's words |
| concepts | tenside Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. also in: tenside | concepts[6] | 0.95 | the paper's words |
| senses | `PFAS` (this paper) - `perfluoroalkyl AND polyfluoroalkyl substances`: aliphatic substances containing the perfluoroalkyl moiety CnF2n+1-, covering BOTH the fully-substituted and the partly-substituted cases Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | senses[0] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| senses | `PFC` - reserved here EXCLUSIVELY for `perfluorocarbons`, because the Kyoto Protocol has used it that way since 1997; its use for `perfluorochemicals` is called `an unfortunate and inappropriate` choice Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | senses[1] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| senses | `fluoropolymers` vs `fluorinated polymers` - the broad term covers any polymer with F in a monomer unit; the narrow one is restricted to a `distinct subset` by `time-honored usage within the industry` Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | senses[2] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| senses | `long-chain` - defined numerically by the OECD to remove subjectivity, and with TWO different carbon counts: 8 or more for the carboxylic acids, 6 or more for the sulfonates Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | senses[3] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| senses | `tenside` / `surfactant` - TWO NAMES FOR ONE THING, SPLIT BY THE LANGUAGE OF THE PUBLISHING COMMUNITY, AND THE PAPER SAYS SO OUTRIGHT: `Quotation withheld.` Not two fields, not two decades - two languages. Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | senses[4] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| claim_relations | extends → IUPAC and Chemical Abstracts Service nomenclature, which this paper explicitly does NOT seek to supplant - 'the designations of choice when a specific substance needs to be unequivocally identified' Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | claim_relations[0] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| claim_relations | extends → the OECD (2011) numeric definition of 'long-chain', adopted here to remove the subjectivity of the adjective Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | claim_relations[1] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| concept_edges | PFAS —distinct-from→ PFC Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. the relation itself is separately evidenced · strength of the relation: 0.95 · note: 'A GIVEN ACRONYM MAY…' This is the rule the corpus lacked for 'priming effect' meaning one thing in psychology and another in soil science: the homonymy is fine until the fields touch · the relation stated: two classes too closely related to share an acronym - the criterion is the DISTANCE BETWEEN THE SPHERES OF USE, not the collision itself | concept_edges[0] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| concept_edges | fluoropolymers —part-of→ fluorinated polymers Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. the relation itself is separately evidenced · strength of the relation: 0.95 · note: `In compliance with time-honored usage within the industry, we recommend further that the term `fluoropolymers` be applied only to a distinct subset of fluorinated polymers.` The containment is a naming decision, not a chemical fact - the narrower term could have been the broader one and the paper says why it is not · the relation stated: 'fluoropolymers' is restricted to a DISTINCT SUBSET of fluorinated polymers, in compliance with time-honoured industry usage also in: fluoropolymers · fluorinated polymers | concept_edges[1] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| concept_edges | PFCAs —distinct-from→ PFSAs Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. the relation itself is separately evidenced · strength of the relation: 0.95 · note: `The `LONG-CHAIN` DEFINITIONS FOR PFCAs AND PFSAs are different in number of C ATOMS because a PFSA with a given number of carbons HAS A greater tendency to bioconcentrate and/OR BIOACCUMULATE than a PFCA with the same number.` One word, two thresholds, and the gap between them is a measurement · the relation stated: 'long-chain' means eight carbons for one family and six for the other, because the sulfonates bioaccumulate more at the same chain length | concept_edges[2] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| content_tags | A PUBLISHED RULE FOR WHEN TWO FIELDS MAY SHARE AN ACRONYM: `a given acronym may legitimately be used in different spheres of activity to denote different concepts, provided these activities are sufficiently disconnected from each other` Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | content_tags.findings[0] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| content_tags | AND BOTH DIRECTIONS OF THE MANY-TO-MANY FAILURE, PLUS A THIRD: `a given compound has often been denoted by a variety of different names and acronyms, or a given acronym has been used to represent different substances ... names ... mistakenly portray substances that are very different from one another as being the same` Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | content_tags.findings[1] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| content_tags | AND A NOMENCLATURE THAT COMPROMISES WITH INSTALLED USAGE ON PURPOSE: `A pragmatic compromise among textbook and/OR IUPAC CHEMICAL NOMENCLATURE, UNIVERSAL CONSISTENCY, AND FREQUENTLY ADOPTED `LEGACY` USAGE` Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | content_tags.findings[2] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| content_tags | AND TWO NOMENCLATURES COEXISTING BY DECLARED DIVISION OF LABOUR: the recommended names are `IN NO WAY INTENDED TO COMPETE WITH OR SUPPLANT IUPAC OR CAS NOMENCLATURE`, which remain `the designations of choice when a specific substance needs to be unequivocally identified` Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | content_tags.findings[3] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| content_tags | AND ONE ADJECTIVE CARRYING TWO THRESHOLDS FOR A MEASURED REASON: `The `LONG-CHAIN` definitions for PFCAs and PFSAs are different in number of C atoms because a PFSA ... has a greater tendency to bioconcentrate and/or bioaccumulate` Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | content_tags.findings[4] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| content_tags | AND FOUR WORDS DECLARED INTERCHANGEABLE WITH THE EXCEPTION NAMED: `SUBSTANCE, COMPOUND, CHEMICAL, AND SPECIES ARE USED INTERCHANGEABLY ... For example, in the European REACH legislation, a SUBSTANCE MAY INCLUDE IMPURITIES AND STABILIZERS` Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | content_tags.findings[5] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| content_tags | `PERFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES ... for which ALL of the H atoms ... have been replaced by F atoms` PLUS `POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES ... for which all H atoms attached to AT LEAST ONE (BUT NOT ALL) C atoms have been replaced`, provided they contain the perfluoroalkyl moiety CnF2n+1- Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. also in: PFAS | content_tags.definitions[0] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| content_tags | `perfluoroalkyl CARBOXYLIC acids with EIGHT carbons and greater` and `perfluoroalkane SULFONATES with SIX carbons and greater` - adopted `To avoid any subjectivity associated with these adjectives` Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. also in: long-chain | content_tags.definitions[1] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| content_tags | `a distinct subset of fluorinated polymers, namely, those made by (co)polymerization of olefinic monomers ... to form a carbon-only polymer backbone with F atoms directly attached to it` - restricted `In compliance with time-honored usage within the industry` Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. also in: fluoropolymers | content_tags.definitions[2] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| content_tags | with recommended names, acronyms, structural formulas and CAS registry numbers Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | content_tags.quantities[0] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| content_tags | one adjective, two numbers, and the gap is a bioaccumulation measurement Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | content_tags.quantities[1] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| content_tags | for PFOS alone - the recommended name covers eleven of eighty-nine Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | content_tags.quantities[2] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| content_tags | a decade after the first reports of global occurrence Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. | content_tags.quantities[3] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| content_tags | the only arithmetic in the naming problem: 89 possible, 11 observed, 1 name - and the mixture `presents challenges in providing an accurate quantification` Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. also in: count of congeners | content_tags.statistics[0] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
| content_tags | CnF2n+1- : the structural feature that decides membership of the PFAS family, and the reason `scattered` polyfluorinated compounds are excluded Quotation withheld — this record is not cleared for redistribution. The sentence is in the paper at the link above. also in: perfluoroalkyl moiety | content_tags.variables[0] | 0.95 | the tagger's words |
Tags that could not be placed in the text:
What was deliberately not tagged, and why, is recorded per paper by the tagger. Where a paper has no such record, this page says so rather than implying that nothing was declined.