Document 7ORmbGv1NNmwZpG9nrKD1DzzR

Overview FACT SHEET PFOA & PFOS Drinking Water Health Advisories EPA has e sta b lis h e d h e a lth a d v is o rie s fo r PFOA and PFOS based on th e a g e n cy's a sse ssm e n t o f th e la te s t p e e r-re v ie w e d science to p ro v id e d rin k in g w a te r s yste m o p e ra to rs , and s ta te , trib a l and local o ffic ia ls w h o have th e p rim a ry re s p o n s ib ility fo r o ve rse e in g th e se system s, w ith in fo rm a tio n on th e h e a lth risks o f th e s e c h e m ic a ls , so th e y can ta k e th e a p p ro p ria te a c tio n s t o p r o t e c t t h e ir re s id e n ts . EPA is c o m m itte d t o s u p p o r tin g s ta te s a n d p u b lic w a te r system s as th e y d e te rm in e th e a p p ro p ria te steps to reduce e xposure to PFOA an d PFOS in d rin k in g w a te r. As science o n h e a lth e ffe c ts o f th e s e ch e m ica ls e vo lve s, EPA w ill c o n tin u e to e v a lu a te n e w e vid e n ce . Background on PFOA and PFOS PFOA and PFOS a re flu o rin a te d o rg a n ic ch e m ica ls th a t a re p a rt o f a la rg e r g ro u p o f c h e m ic a ls re fe rre d to as p e rflu o ro a lk y l s u b s ta n c e s (PFASs). PFOA a nd PFOS have b een th e m o s t e x te n s iv e ly p ro d u c e d and s tu d ie d o f th e s e ch e m ica ls. T h e y have been used to m ake c a rp e ts, c lo th in g , fa b ric s fo r fu rn i tu re , p a p e r p ackagin g fo r fo o d and o th e r m a te ria ls (e.g., c o o k w a re ) th a t are re s is ta n t to w a te r, g rease o r sta in s. T h e y are also used fo r fire fig h tin g a t a ir fie ld s a n d in a n u m b e r o f in d u s tria l pro ce sse s. B ecause th e s e c h e m ic a ls h a ve b e e n used in an a rra y o f c o n s u m e r p ro d u c ts , m o s t p e o p le have b e e n e x p o se d to th e m . B e tw e e n 2 0 0 0 and 2 0 0 2 , PFOS w a s v o lu n ta r ily p h a s e d o u t o f p ro d u c tio n in th e U.S. b y its p r im a r y m a n u fa c tu r e r . In 2 0 0 6 , e ig h t m a jo r c o m p a n ie s v o lu n ta rily a g re e d to phase o u t th e ir g lo b a l p ro d u c tio n o f PFOA and P F O A -re la te d ch e m ica ls, a lth o u g h th e re are a lim ite d n u m b e r o f o n g o in g uses. S c ie n tis ts h a ve fo u n d PFOA a n d PFOS in th e b lo o d o f n e a rly all th e p e o p le th e y te s te d , b u t th e s e s tu d ie s s h o w th a t th e le v e ls o f PFOA a n d PFOS in b lo o d h a ve b e e n d e c re a s in g . W h ile c o n s u m e r p ro d u c ts and fo o d are a large s o u rce o f e x p o s u re to th e s e ch e m ic a ls fo r m o s t p e o p le , d rin k in g w a te r can be an a d d itio n a l s o u rc e in th e sm a ll p e r ce n ta g e o f c o m m u n itie s w h e re th e se ch e m ica ls have c o n ta m in a te d w a te r s u p p lie s . S uch c o n ta m in a tio n is ty p ic a lly lo c a liz e d a n d a s s o c ia te d w it h a s p e c ific fa c ility , fo r e xa m p le , an in d u s tria l fa c ility w h e re th e se ch e m ica ls w e re p ro d u ce d o r used to m a n u fa c tu re o th e r p ro d u c ts o r an a irfie ld a t w h ic h th e y w e re used fo r fire fig h tin g . EPA's 2016 Lifetime Health Advisories EPA d e ve lo p s h e a lth a d viso rie s to p ro v id e in fo rm a tio n on c o n ta m in a n ts th a t can cause h u m a n h e a lth e ffe cts a n d a re k n o w n o r a n tic ip a te d to o c c u r in d r in k in g w a te r . EPA's h e a lth a d v is o rie s a re n o n -e n fo rc e a b le a n d n o n -re g u la to ry a nd p ro v id e te c h n ic a l in fo rm a tio n to s ta te s a gencie s and o th e r p u b lic h e a lth o ffic ia ls on h e a lth e ffe c ts , a n a ly tic a l m e th o d o lo g ie s , and tre a tm e n t te c h n o lo g ie s a sso cia te d w ith d rin k in g w a te r c o n ta m in a tio n . In 2 0 0 9 , EPA p u b lis h e d p ro v is io n a l h e a lth a d v is o rie s fo r PFOA an d PFOS based o n th e e v id e n c e a v a il a b le a t t h a t t im e . T h e s c ie n c e ha s e v o lv e d s in c e th e n a n d EPA is n o w re p la c in g th e 2 0 0 9 p r o v is io n a l a d v is o ries w ith n e w , life tim e h e a lth a d viso rie s. US Environmental Protection Agency 1 May 2016 EPA 800-F-16-003 FACT SHEET PFOA & PFOS Drinking Water Health Advisories EPA's 2016 Lifetime Health Advisories, continued To provide Americans, including the most sensitive populations, with a margin of protection from a life time of exposure to PFOA and PFOS from drinking water, EPA established the health advisory levels at 70 parts per trillion. W h e n b o t h P F O A a n d PFOS a re f o u n d in d r in k in g w a t e r , t h e c o m b in e d c o n c e n t r a t io n s o f PFOA and PFOS sh o u ld be c o m p a re d w ith th e 70 p a rts p e r tr illio n h e a lth a d v is o ry le ve l. T his h e a lth a d v i s o ry le ve l o ffe rs a m a rg in o f p ro te c tio n fo r all A m e ric a n s th ro u g h o u t th e ir life fro m a d ve rse h e a lth e ffe c ts re s u ltin g fro m e x p o s u re to PFOA an d PFOS in d rin k in g w a te r. How the Health Advisories were developed EPA's h e a lth a d v is o rie s a re ba se d o n th e b e s t a v a ila b le p e e r-re v ie w e d s tu d ie s o f th e e ffe c ts o f PFO A a n d PFOS o n la b o ra to ry a n im a ls (ra ts and m ice ) and w e re also in fo rm e d by e p id e m io lo g ic a l s tu d ie s o f h u m a n p o p u la tio n s th a t have been exp o se d to PFASs. T hese s tu d ie s in d ic a te th a t e x p o s u re to PFOA and PFOS o v e r c e rta in le ve ls m a y re s u lt in a d v e rs e h e a lth e ffe c ts , in c lu d in g d e v e lo p m e n ta l e ffe c ts to fe tu s e s d u rin g p re g n a n cy o r to b re a s tfe d in fa n ts (e.g., lo w b irth w e ig h t, a c c e le ra te d p u b e rty , s k e le ta l v a ria tio n s ), c a n c e r (e.g., te s tic u la r, kid n e y), liv e r e ffe c ts (e.g., tissu e d a m a g e ), im m u n e e ffe c ts (e.g., a n tib o d y p ro d u c tio n and im m u n ity ), th y ro id e ffe c ts and o th e r e ffe c ts (e.g., c h o le s te ro l changes). EPA's h e a lth a d v is o ry le v e ls w e re c a lc u la te d to o ffe r a m a rg in o f p ro te c tio n a g a in s t a d v e rs e h e a lth e ffe c ts to th e m o s t se n sitive p o p u la tio n s : fe tu s e s d u rin g p re g n a n cy and b re a s tfe d in fa n ts . The h e a lth a d v is o ry le v els are c a lc u la te d based o n th e d rin k in g w a te r in ta k e o f la c ta tin g w o m e n , w h o d rin k m o re w a te r th a n o th e r p e o p le and can pass th e se ch e m ica ls a lo n g to n u rsin g in fa n ts th ro u g h b re a s tm ilk . Recommended Actions for Drinking Water Systems Steps to Assess Contamination If w a te r s a m p lin g re s u lts c o n firm th a t d rin k in g w a te r c o n ta in s PFOA and PFOS a t in d iv id u a l o r c o m b in e d c o n c e n tra tio n s g re a te r th a n 70 p a rts p e r trillio n , w a te r system s sh o u ld q u ic k ly u n d e rta k e a d d itio n a l sa m p lin g to assess th e level, scope and localized so u rce o f c o n ta m in a tio n to in fo rm n e x t steps Steps to Inform If w a te r s a m p lin g re s u lts c o n firm th a t d rin k in g w a te r c o n ta in s PFOA and PFOS a t in d iv id u a l o r c o m b in e d c o n c e n tra tio n s g re a te r th a n 70 p a rts p e r trillio n , w a te r system s sh o u ld p ro m p tly n o tify th e ir S tate d rin k in g w a te r s a fe ty a g e n c y ( o r w it h EPA in ju r is d ic tio n s f o r w h ic h EPA is th e p r im a r y d r in k in g w a te r s a fe ty a g e n c y ) and c o n s u lt w ith th e re le v a n t agency on th e best a p p ro a c h to c o n d u c t a d d itio n a l s a m p lin g . D rin k in g w a te r syste m s and p u b lic h e a lth o ffic ia ls s h o u ld also p ro m p tly p ro v id e c o n s u m e rs w ith in fo r m a tio n a b o u t th e le ve ls o f PFOA a nd PFOS in th e ir d rin k in g w a te r. T h is n o tic e s h o u ld in c lu d e s p e c ific in fo r m a tio n o n th e risks to fe tu s e s d u rin g p re g n a n c y and b re a s tfe d and fo rm u la -fe d in fa n ts fro m e x p o s u re to d rin k in g w a te r w ith an in d iv id u a l o r c o m b in e d c o n c e n tra tio n o f PFO A a n d PFOS a b o v e EPA's h e a lth a d v is o ry le ve l o f 70 p a rts p e r tr illio n . In a d d itio n , th e n o tific a tio n s h o u ld in c lu d e a c tio n s th e y a re ta k in g an d id e n ti fy o p tio n s th a t c o n s u m e rs m a y c o n s id e r to re d u ce risk such as se e kin g an a lte rn a tiv e d rin k in g w a te r so u rce , o r in th e case o f p a re n ts o f fo rm u la -fe d in fa n ts , u sin g fo rm u la th a t d o e s n o t re q u ire a d d in g w a te r. US Environmental Protection Agency 2 May 2016 EPA 800-F-16-003 FACT SHEET PFOA & PFOS Drinking Water Health Advisories Recommended Actions for Drinking Water Systems, continued Steps to Limit Exposure A n u m b e r o f o p tio n s a re a v a ila b le to d r in k in g w a te r s y s te m s to lo w e r c o n c e n tra tio n s o f PFO A a n d PFOS in th e ir d rin k in g w a te r s u p p ly . In s o m e cases, d rin k in g w a te r sy s te m s can re d u c e c o n c e n tra tio n s o f p e rflu o ro a lk y l substance s, in c lu d in g PFOA and PFOS, by c lo sin g c o n ta m in a te d w e lls o r ch a n g in g ra te s o f b le n d in g o f w a te r so u rce s. A lte rn a tiv e ly , p u b lic w a te r syste m s can tre a t s o u rce w a te r w ith a c tiv a te d c a rb o n o r high p re ssu re m e m b ra n e syste m s (e.g., re ve rse osm osis) to re m o v e PFOA and PFOS fro m d rin k in g w a te r. T hese tre a tm e n t system s are used by so m e p u b lic w a te r syste m s to d a y , b u t sh o u ld be c a re fu lly de sig n e d and m a in ta in e d to e n s u re th a t th e y a re e ffe c tiv e fo r tre a tin g PFOA an d PFOS. In s o m e c o m m u n itie s , e n titie s have p ro v id e d b o ttle d w a te r to c o n s u m e rs w h ile ste p s to re d u ce o r re m o v e PFOA o r PFOS fro m d rin k in g w a te r o r to e sta b lish a n e w w a te r s u p p ly are c o m p le te d . H om e d rin k in g w a te r tre a tm e n t u n its are ty p ic a lly c e rtifie d by in d e p e n d e n t th ird p a rty o rg a n iza tio n s a g a in s t A m e ric a n N a tio n a l S ta n d a rd s In s titu te (AN SI) s ta n d a rd s to v e rify th e ir c o n ta m in a n t re m o v a l cla im s. S om e h o m e filte rs re m o v e im p u ritie s using a c tiv a te d c a rb o n and re ve rse o sm o sis, w h ic h are th e sam e te c h n o lo g ie s u tiliz e d by p u b lic w a te r s u p p ly system s to re m o v e PFOA and PFOS. H o w e ve r, th e re c u rre n tly are no ANSI p ro to c o ls fo r te s tin g h o m e tre a tm e n t system s to v e rify th a t th e s e d e vice s e ffe c tiv e ly re m o v e PFOA a n d PFOS o r h o w fr e q u e n tly th e filte r s s h o u ld be c h a n g e d in o rd e r to m a in ta in re m o v a l e ffic ie n c y . NSF In te r n a tio n a l is c u r r e n tly d e v e lo p in g s u c h p ro to c o ls . Other Actions Relating to PFOA and PFOS B e tw e e n 2 0 0 0 a n d 2 0 0 2 , PFOS w a s v o lu n ta r ily p h a se d o u t o f p ro d u c tio n in th e U.S. b y its p rim a ry m a n u fa c tu r e r , 3 M . EPA also issued re g u la tio n s to lim it fu tu r e m a n u fa c tu rin g , in c lu d in g im p o rta tio n , o f PFOS a n d its p re c u rs o rs , w ith o u t firs t h a vin g EPA re v ie w th e n e w use. A lim ite d se t o f e x is tin g uses fo r PFOS (fire re sis ta n t a v ia tio n h yd ra u lic flu id s, p h o to g ra p h y and film p ro d u cts, p h o to m ic ro lith o g ra p h y process to p ro d u ce s e m ic o n d u c to rs , m e ta l fin is h in g and p la tin g b a th s, c o m p o n e n t o f an e tc h a n t) w as e xclu d e d fro m th e se re g u la tio n s because th e se uses w e re o n g o in g and a lte rn a tiv e s w e re n o t a va ila b le . In 2 0 0 6 , EPA asked e ig h t m a jo r c o m p a n ie s to c o m m it to w o rk in g to w a rd th e e lim in a tio n o f th e ir p ro d u c tio n and use o f PFOA, and c h e m ic a ls th a t d e g ra d e to PFOA, fro m e m is s io n s and p ro d u c ts b y th e e n d o f 2 0 1 5 . A ll e ig h t c o m p a n ie s have in d ic a te d th a t th e y have phased o u t PFOA, and ch e m ica ls th a t d e g ra d e to PFOA, fr o m e m is s io n s a n d p ro d u c ts b y th e e n d o f 2 0 1 5 . A d d itio n a lly , PFO A is in c lu d e d in E PA's p ro p o s e d T o x ic S u b s ta n c e C o n tro l A c t's S ig n ific a n t N e w Use R ule (SNUR) issued in J a n u a ry 2 0 1 5 w h ic h w ill e n s u re th a t EPA has an o p p o rtu n ity to re v ie w a n y e ffo rts to re in tro d u c e th e ch e m ica l in to th e m a rk e tp la c e and ta k e a c tio n , as necessary, to address p o te n tia l concerns. EPA has n o t e s ta b lis h e d n a tio n a l p r im a r y d r in k in g w a te r re g u la tio n s f o r PFO A a n d PFOS. EPA is e v a lu a tin g PFOA a n d PFOS as d rin k in g w a te r c o n ta m in a n ts in a c c o rd a n c e w ith th e p ro ce ss re q u ire d b y th e Safe D rin k ing W a te r A c t (S D W A ). To re g u la te a c o n ta m in a n t u n d e r SD W A, EPA m u s t fin d th a t it: (1) m a y have a d ve rse h e a lth e ffe c ts ; (2 ) o c c u rs fr e q u e n tly (o r th e r e is a s u b s ta n tia l lik e lih o o d t h a t it o c c u rs fr e q u e n tly ) a t le v e ls o f p u b lic h e a lth c o n c e rn ; a n d (3) th e r e is a m e a n in g fu l o p p o r t u n it y f o r h e a lth ris k re d u c tio n f o r p e o p le s e rv e d by p u b lic w a te r system s. US Environmental Protection Agency 3 May 2016 EPA 800-F-16-003 FACT SHEET PFOA & PFOS Drinking Water Health Advisories Other Actions Relating to PFOA and PFOS, continued EPA in c lu d e d PFOA and PFOS a m o n g th e list o f c o n ta m in a n ts th a t w a te r syste m s are re q u ire d to m o n ito r u n d e r th e th ir d U n re g u la te d C o n ta m in a n t M o n ito r in g R ule (U C M R 3) in 2 0 1 2 . R e su lts o f th is m o n ito rin g e ffo rt are u p d a te d re g u la rly and can be fo u n d on th e p u b lic ly -a v a ila b le N a tio n a l C o n ta m in a n t O ccu rre n ce D atabase (NCOD) (h ttp s ://w w w .e p a .g o v /d w u c m r/o c c u rre n c e -d a ta -u n re g u la te d -c o n ta m in a n t-m o n ito rin g ru le # 3 ) . In a c c o rd a n c e w ith S D W A , EPA w ill c o n s id e r th e o c c u rre n c e d a ta fr o m U C M R 3, a lo n g w ith th e p e e r re v ie w e d h e a lth e ffe c ts assessm ents s u p p o rtin g th e PFOA and PFOS H e a lth A d v is o rie s , to m ake a re g u la to ry d e te rm in a tio n on w h e th e r to in itia te th e process to d e v e lo p a n a tio n a l p rim a ry d rin k in g w a te r re g u la tio n . In a d d itio n , EPA p la n s to b e g in a s e p a ra te e ffo r t to d e te rm in e th e ra n g e o f PFAS fo r w h ic h an In te g ra te d R isk I n fo r m a tio n S y s te m (IRIS) a s s e s s m e n t is n e e d e d . T h e IRIS P ro g ra m id e n tifie s a n d c h a ra c te riz e s th e h e a lth h a z a rd s o f c h e m ic a ls fo u n d in th e e n v ir o n m e n t. IRIS a s s e s s m e n ts in fo r m th e f ir s t t w o s te p s o f th e ris k a s s e s s m e n t p ro c e s s : h a z a rd id e n tific a tio n , a n d d o s e -re s p o n s e . A s in d ic a te d in th e 2 0 1 5 IRIS M u lti- Y e a r A g e n d a , th e IRIS P ro g ra m w ill be w o r k in g w it h o th e r EPA o ffic e s t o d e te r m in e th e ra n g e o f PFAS c o m pou n d s and th e scope o f assessm ent re q u ire d to best m e e t A gency needs. M o re a b o u t th is e ffo rt can be fo u n d a t h ttp s ://w w w .e p a .g o v /iris /iris -a g e n d a . Where Can I Learn More? EPA's D rin k in g W a te r H e a lth A d v is o rie s fo r PFO A a n d PFOS can be fo u n d a t: h ttp s ://w w w .e p a .g o v / g ro u n d -w a te r-a n d -d rin k in g -w a te r/d rin k in g -w a te r-h e a lth -a d v is o rie s -p fo a -a n d -p fo s PFO A a n d PFOS d a ta c o lle c te d u n d e r EPA's U n re g u la te d C o n ta m in a n t M o n ito r in g R ule a re a v a ila b le : h ttp s ://w w w .e p a .g o v /d w u c m r/o c c u rre n c e -d a ta -u n re g u la te d -c o n ta m in a n t-m o n ito rin g -ru le EPA's s te w a rd s h ip p ro g ra m f o r PFAS re la te d to TSCA: h ttp s ://w w w .e p a .g o v /a s s e s s in g -a n d -m a n a g in g c h e m ic a ls -u n d e r-ts c a /a n d -p o ly flu o ro a lk y l-s u b s ta n c e s -p fa s s -u n d e r-ts c a EPA's re s e a rc h a c tiv itie s o n PFASs can be fo u n d a t: h ttp ://w w w .e p a .g o v /c h e m ic a l- r e s e a r c h / p e rflu o rin a te d -c h e m ic a l-p fc -re s e a rc h T h e A g e n c y fo r T o xic S u b sta n ce s a nd D isease R e g is try 's P e rflo u rin a te d C h e m ica ls an d Y o u r H e a lth w e bpag e at: h ttp ://w w w .a ts d r.c d c .g o v /P F C / US Environmental Protection Agency vEPA U nited States E nvironm ental Protection Agency 4 May 2016 EPA 800-F-16-003