Tuesday, July 26, 2016

EPA established health advisories for PFOA and PFOS based on the agency’s assessment of the latest peer-reviewed science regarding the health risks of these chemicals




 

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) under TSCA


Overview

What are PFASs and where are they found?

Many per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), also referred to as perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), are found world-wide in the environment, wildlife, and humans.
PFASs are substances that have many manufacturing and industrial applications because they impart useful properties, including fire resistance and oil, stain, grease and water repellency. These chemicals are used in a wide range of industrial applications and the manufacture of consumer goods, and may be found in cleaners, textiles, leather, paper and paints, fire-fighting foams, and wire insulation.

Why is EPA concerned about Long-chain PFASs?

EPA is particularly concerned about so-called long-chain PFAS chemicals. These are persistent in the environment, bioaccumulative in wildlife and humans, and are toxic to laboratory animals and wildlife, producing reproductive, developmental, and systemic effects in laboratory tests.
These long-chain PFASs comprise two sub-categories:
  • long-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) with eight or more carbons, including PFOA, and
  • perfluoroalkane sulfonates (PFSAs) with six or more carbons, including
    • perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) and
    • perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS).
While persistent in the environment, PFCA chemicals with fewer than eight carbons, such as perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), and PFSA chemicals with fewer than six carbons, such as perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS), are generally less toxic and less bioaccumulative in wildlife and humans.

What is EPA doing?

EPA has taken a range of regulatory actions to address PFAS substances in manufacturing and consumer products as noted below. In addition, EPA developed and industry implemented a global stewardship program with the goal of eliminating these chemicals from emissions and products by 2015.