Document mp9ykYJbmVkVz8nE0a0D5VxZZ

WEORECt. OPPf HC\C 10 ^ilO: 10 AR 26 - 0 6 /6 Phasing Out a Problem: Perfluorooctyl Sulfonate (PFOS) Mary F. Dominiak U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Naval Research Laboratory 3 August 2000 / What is PFOS? Perfluorooctyl sulfonates; acids, salts, halides, etc. Man-made: do not occur in nature Produced since 1950's for use in surface treatment, 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 usedfor? Soil and stain resistant coatings on textiles, carpets, leather (2.3 million lbs/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 lbs/year) i Why is PFOS a problem :? PFOS is a PBT chemical: Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxic PFOS has been found in the blood o f the general US population, in wildlife, and in people overseas If Why is PFOS a problem \? Persistent: - 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 4 years - Higher-ups in the food chain are exposed to the full dose of what has built up in their food t Why is PFOS a problem ? ` Toxicity: - PFOS is only moderately toxic via acute oral exposure; rat LD50 of 251 mg/kg - In repeat oral dose subchronic and reproductive toxicity studies, however, serious effects seen Post-natal deaths in rats at S.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 cynomolgus monkeys at 0.75 mg/kg/day 6 Why is PFOS a proble 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 serumfrom general population, 30- 40 ppb; small sample o f children, mean 54 ppb - In eagles, wild birds, andfish, in ppb range 7 How did PFOS get in people? We don't know the precise exposure roul 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 2 Why haven't PFOS problems been addressed before? 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 PFOS? 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 adverse effects Questions/concems on occupational exposures 10 What is being done about PFOS? amm 3M conducted studies, shared results with EPA, and discussed concerns On 5/16/2000, 3M publicly announced voluntary phase-out o f perfluorooctanyl chemistries, most by end o f 2000 3M submitted phase-out plan to EPA on 6/16/2000, amended on 7/7/2000 3M continues aggressive research program ii What does the 3M PF 0S phaseout plan involve? 3M will stop manufacture of PFOS for surface treatment products by 12/31/2000; includes fabric/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 What does EPA think o f 3M 's PFOSphaseout plan? EPA agrees that continued manufacture and use 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 What does this meanfor fire fighters using PFOSfoams? Fire fighting foams are in the performance category o f products; continue through 2002 3M and EPA will be assessing health, safety and environmental implications o f possible substitutes; will welcome dialogue! If qualified substitutes not available by end o f 2002, 3M may request continued PFOS production for specific uses IH- What about using chemicals other than PFOS? 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 twoyear research effort on some major telomers to begin 9/2000 Too early to anticipate outcomes How will EPA make decisions on PFOS issues? Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Risk/benefit balancing requirements allow flexibility; TSCA lets EPA take risk/risk tradeoffs, 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 action *9 ligi 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