EPA Perfluoros Activities Update

1
EPA Perfluoros Activities Update

• FOSTTA, October 18, 2005

2
OPPT Perfluoro Activities Overview

• OPPT began investigating perfluorinated compounds
  in late 1999, based on new data on perfluorooctyl
  sulfonate (PFOS)
• Present in human blood and environment worldwide
  human half-life of years
• Persistent does not further degrade
• Developmental, systemic toxicity in animals
• Largely phased out 2000/2 EPA issued Significant
  New Use Rule (SNUR)

3
OPPT Perfluoro Activities Overview

• OPPT expanded investigation in 2000 to include
  perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and fluorinated
  telomers
• PFOA also found in human blood in US, at lower
  concentrations than PFOS
• PFOA also persistent in environment, humans
• PFOA also toxic in animal testing
• PFOA used in manufacture of fluoropolymers may
  also be breakdown product of telomers

4
OPPT Perfluoro Activities Overview

• 4/03, OPPT released Preliminary Draft Risk
  Assessment on PFOA developmental concerns,
  published notice soliciting parties for
  enforceable consent agreements (ECAs)
• ECA process focus is on understanding
• sources of PFOA in environment,
• pathways leading to human and environmental
  exposure

5
PFOA ECA Process Status

• Fluoropolymer and telomer incineration ECAs
  signed, published in FR July 2005
• Fluoropolymer aged articles PFOA generation
  testing draft ECA proposal planned to be
  available for comment in Winter 2005/6

6
PFOA ECA Process Status

• Telomer biodegradation No ECAs Separate test
  programs underway by EPA/ORD and industry
• Environmental sampling and monitoring No ECAs
  MOU for fluoropolymer manufacturing site
  monitoring signed with 3M Oct. 2004 MOU with
  DuPont expected in Oct. 2005

7
PFOA Risk Assessment Activity

• OPPT submitted draft PFOA risk assessment to EPA
  Science Advisory Board in Jan. 2005 for public
  peer review
• SAB final report and recommendations expected
  before end of 2005
• All SAB review information available at
  http//www.epa.gov/sab/panels/pfoa_rev_panel.htm

8
Further Info on OPPT PFOA Activities

• PFOA website www.epa.gov/oppt/pfoa/
• Online docket www.epa.gov/edocket/, use Quick
  Search to locate docket OPPT-2003-0012 for PFOA
  ECA process
• PFOS/PFAS rule docket OPPT-2002-0043
• Extensive data repository in file AR-226
  electronic index from oppt.ncic_at_epa.gov
• Mary Dominiak, Coordinator 202-564-8104
  dominiak.mary_at_epa.gov

9
Additional U.S. Perfluoro Activities

• EPA proposed in 2003 that the Centers for Disease
  Control and Prevention (CDC) include PFOS, PFOA,
  other perfluorinated chemicals in U.S. human
  biomonitoring program results expected in 2007
• EPA nominated a perfluorinated sulfonic and
  carboxylic acids class study to National
  Toxicology Program results 2007/8

10
Additional U.S. Perfluoro Activities

• The U.S. National Institute of Environmental
  Health Sciences funded PFOA community exposure
  study in Little Hocking, OH http//www.lhwc8stud
  y.org/
• Settlement of DuPont class action lawsuit
  includes a PFOA community health study, beginning
  Summer 2005 http//www.c8healthproject.org/

11
International Activities on Perfluoros

• In 2000, the U.S. alerted OECD to PFOS concerns
  and to questions on PFOA and telomers
• OECD activities are underway
• Sweden nominated PFOS for consideration as a
  LRTAP POP in 2004
• Some PFOS regulation proposed in Canada, U.K.,
  others