Document 33zMBeYnEYBo3nXe202J5zMa

co 17r EEE as16 O10 AR 226 _ 06/9 2 Phasing Out a Problem: Perfluorooctyl Sulfonate (PFOS) Mary F. Dominiak U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Naval Research Laboratory 3 August 2000 | | What is PE; i ? * Perfluorooctyl sulfonates; acids, salts, halides, etc. * Man-made: do not occur in nature * Produced since 1950's for use in surfacetreatment, paper protection, and performance chemical (surfactant and insecticide)products * Also produced by breakdown/degradation of other sulfonyl-based fluorochemicals * Made mostly by 3M Company What is PFOS "? * Soil and stain resistant coatings on text S, carpets, leather (2.3 million Ibs/year) + Oil, grease, and water resistance on paper products, including paperboard and food contact papers (2.6 million lbs/year) * Performance chemicals: fire fighting foams, industrial surfactants, acid mist suppression, etc. (1.5 million Ibs/year) 3 Why is PFOS a i * PFOS is a PBT chemical: _-- Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxic * PFOS has been found in the blood of the general US population, in wildlife, and in people overseas u Why is PFOS a problem? * Persistent: 5n ) = PFOS is a very stable chemical that does not break down or degrade in the environment; once it's there, it stays * Bioaccumulative: -- PFOS can build up over time; its half-life in human blood is about 4years -- Higher-ups in the food chain are exposed to the full dose of what has built up in their food | Ss Why is PFOS a "a * Toxicity: -- PFOS is only moderately toxic via acute oral exposure; rat LDs, of251 mg/kg -- In repeat oral dose subchronic and reproductive toxicity studies, however, serious effects seen * Post-natal deaths in rats at 3.2 and 1.6 mg/kg/day * In repeat-dose treated Rhesus monkeys, death within 3 weeks at 10 mg/kg/day; within 7 weeks at 4.5 mg/kg/day. Adverse effects in cynomolgusmonkeys at 0.75 mg/kg/day 6 Why is PFOS a "a + Detected in blood not only in workers handling the chemical, but in the general US population and in wildlife -- High as 12.83 ppm in manufacturing workers -- In pooled serum from general population, 30- 40 ppb; small sample ofchildren, mean 54 ppb | -- In eagles, wild birds, andfish, in ppb range 7 How did PFOS get in a + We don't know the precise exposure rot > but studies are underway * Possibilities include: -- Dietary intake from food wrapped in papers treated with PFOS derivatives -- Inhalation from aerosol applications -- Inhalation, dietary, or dermal exposures during manufacturing, use, or disposal of chemicals and treated products 8 Why haven't PFOS problems been addressed 4= * PFOS was always known to be persistent, but much information on bioaccumulation and toxicity is recent -- Improved detection technologies find PFOS at much lower levels in humans, wildlife -- PFOS doesn't fit normal bioaccumulation model; partitions to blood, notfat | -- Newest toxicity tests raise greatest concerns How big a risk is a * EPA does not believe that the current situation presents an imminent health risk to the general US population; blood levels low, concentration in surface-treatedproducts (carpets/textiles) low + However, serious concern for potential future risk to humans and wildlife if PFOS continues to be produced, released, built up in the environment + Studies underway to determine relationship of current blood levels to potential for adverseeffects | * Questions/concerns on occupational exposures | 10 What is being done about ae * 3M conducted studies, shared results with. EPA, and discussed concerns * On 5/16/2000, 3M publicly announced voluntary phase-out ofperfluorooctanyl | chemistries, most by end of 2000 * 3M submitted phase-out plan to EPA on 6/16/2000, amended on 7/7/2000 * 3M continues aggressive research program n What does the 3M PFOS Pphaseout plan a- * 3M will stop manufacture of PFOS fors r > treatment products by 12/31/2000; includes Jabric/carpet/leather soil and stain resistance and paper coating products, includingfood contact * 3M will phase out manufacture of PFOS for performance products by 12/31/2002 + Caveat: May request permission for extended production for specific performance uses for which adequate substitutes do not exist or can't be qualified in time; risk/risk tradeoffs, national security, technical performance issues | in What does EPA think of3M''s PFOSphaseout Sh + EPA agrees that continued manufacture and\ se of PFOS represents an unacceptable technology that should be eliminated to protect human health and the environment from long term consequences | * 3M's voluntary phaseout will accomplish this goal more quickly than regulation could + EPA may use regulation to "close the door" on PFOS after 3M's exit; concernedparties will be | able to comment and to dialogue with EPA | 13 What does this mean forfire fighters using PFOS ke * Fire fighting foams are in theperform ce category of products; continue through 2002 * 3M and EPA will be assessing health, safety and environmental implications of possible substitutes; will welcomedialogue! + If qualified substitutes not available by end of 2002, 3M may request continued PFOS production for specific uses 1H What about using chemicals other than PEso + Initial actions and phaseout apply to PFOS chemicals only * EPA will be expanding review to assess other perfluorinated chemicals and related chemistries; PFOA, telomers + Assessment activities will be international * Industry group already proposing voluntary two- ybeeagrinre9s/e2a0r0c0h effort on some major telomers to + Too early to anticipate outcomes 5 How will EPA make decisions on PFOS a ? Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) ; * Risk/benefit balancing requirements allow flexibility; TSCA lets EPA take risk/risktradeoffs, economic issues into account * Possible actions include: -- Bans --Restrictions on uses -- Production volume limits -- Data collection and new testing requirements -- Labeling, hazard communication 16 Where can Ifind information on PFOS and EPA "i * All documents on PFOS in public EPA ; Administrative Record, File AR-226 = Includes all health studies submitted on PFOS | -- Available in hard copy or on CD-ROM -- 401 M St, SW, Room NE B-607, Wash., DC, noon to 4 PM Eastern, Monday-Friday; telephone 202-260-7099 + Working on website; not up yet, stay tuned * Interim EPA "Voice of PFOS:" Mary Dominiak, phone 202-260-7768; dominiak. mary@epa.gov | 17