Document XRNOg9VOXzb6kzKNm8m96kGNJ

l/ i i m I iviu.iv I v i b a i u i m v i NAVY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CENTER 620 JOHN PAUL JONES CIRCLE SUITE 1100 PORTSMOUTH VA 23708-2103 8282 Ser IH50/ 000214 From: Commanding Officer, Navy Environmental Health Center o 2008 To: Commander, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (Code 635), BLDG 1000/2 Naval Business Center, 5001 S. Broad Street Philadelphia PA 19112-1403 Subj: ADMINISTRATIVE HEALTH HAZARD ASSESSMENT: REVIEW OF AQUEOUS FILM-FORMING FOAMS Ref: (a) Commander, Naval Surface Warfare Center Ltr 9593 Ser 635/18 1-6350-480 of 3 Feb 2006 (b) Material Safety Data Sheet for Aero-O-Water 6EM 6% manufactured by National Foam, Inc., Exton, PA (c) Material Safety Data Sheet for ANSULITE 6% AFFF (AFC-5) manufactured by ANSUL, Inc., Marinette, WI (d) NAVENVIRHLTHCEN ltr 8282 Ser IH50/000016 of 06 Jan 2006 (e) OPNAVINST 5100.23G 1. Per reference (a), this command conducted administrative health hazard assessments for two Aqueous Film-Forming Foams (AFFF) identified in references (b) and (c). Reference (d) outlines possible health effects arising from bio-persistent contaminants such as periluorooctanoic acid. 2. Current regulatory interest concerning AFFF by the United State Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) focuses on perflurooctanoic acid containing eight fluorinated carbon chains. Subject AFFF products use molecules with a shorter carbon chain (6 carbons), unregulated by the US EPA at this time. However, it is likely that these lower chained molecules would also be bio-persistent. Thus, a program to seek, test and consider long-range alternatives to current fluorosurfactant-based AFFF would be prudent. To prevent potential adverse health effects associated with the use of AFFF, industrial hygiene and medical surveillance guidance should be relied upon (reference (e)). 3. Health and regulatory information concerning AFFF and perflurooctanoic acid will continue to be collected by this Command. The point of contact, Mr. Mike Swartout, can be reached via telephone at 757-953-0745, or by e-mail at swartoutm@nehc.med.navy.mil. Copy to: BUMED (M33) US00002313