&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water EPA- 820-F-14-004
MC 4304T
February 2014
Peer Review of Health Effects Documents
for PFOA and PFOS
This factsheet is not the most recent information.
Effects information for PFOA and PFOS.
Summary
EPA has initiated external peer review of its
draft human health effects documents for
Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and
Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS). Following
peer review, EPA will use the revised
documents to derive lifetime health advisories
for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water. Once
finalized, the lifetime health advisories are
expected to supersede EPA's provisional health
advisories issued in 2009. Health advisories
serve as guidance only and are not enforceable.
Background
PFOA and PFOS are organic chemicals that
have been used in a variety of commercial and
consumer products, such as stain and water
repellants for carpets and upholstered
furnishings, paper products, fire-fighting foams,
and non-stick cookware. Both compounds are
persistent in the environment and are known to
have adverse effects in laboratory animals.
Recent epidemiology data suggest the possibility
for some adverse effects on human health.
In January 2009 EPA developed provisional
health advisories for PFOA and PFOS in
drinking water of 0.4 micrograms per liter for
PFOA and 0.2 micrograms per liter for PFOS.
The provisional health advisories, if exceeded,
suggest the need for discontinuing use of water
for drinking or cooking. They reflect an amount
of PFOA and PFOS that may cause adverse
health effects in the short term (weeks to
months).
Draft Health Effects Documents
As the database of studies of both chemicals has
expanded, EPA has been able to develop draft
health effects documents. Following peer
review, these documents can be used to establish
lifetime health advisories for PFOA and PFOS
in drinking water.
Go to www.epa.gov/safewater for the latest Health
The draft human health effects documents for
PFOA and PFOS summarize the available
toxicokinetic, epidemiological, and toxicity data
from studies of each chemical. EPA developed a
toxicokinetic model to quantify the risk from
long term exposures and to support the
development of reference doses for each
chemical.
A reference dose is an estimate (with adjustment
for uncertainties) of a daily exposure to the
human population (including sensitive
subgroups) that is likely to be without
appreciable risk of adverse health effects during
a lifetime. A reference dose is the basis for a
lifetime health advisory by including
consideration of drinking water intakes by
sensitive subgroups such as children and
pregnant women, and the contributions from
other exposure sources such as food, consumer
products, and ambient air.
Following peer review, EPA will revise the
health effects documents as necessary and use
the documents to derive lifetime health
advisories for PFOA and PFOS in drinking
water. Once finalized, the lifetime health
advisories are expected to supersede EPA's
provisional health advisories issued in 2009.
Lifetime health advisories serve as guidance and
are benchmarks for determining if
concentrations of chemicals in tap water from
public utilities are safe for public consumption.
They provide state, local and tribal governments
with non-regulatory tools to make decisions on a
local basis in cases where a chemical is not
regulated. Health advisories are not enforceable.
Peer Review Process
EPA has initiated external peer review of the
draft health effects documents for PFOA and
PFOS through publication of the first of three
Federal Register notices. The first notice
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announces a three-week period for the public to
submit nominations of experts to serve on a
panel peer review and makes available the draft
documents for a 60-day public comment period.
Following the close of the nomination period, a
preliminary list of peer reviewers will be
developed by a contractor. EPA will then
publish a second notice in the Federal Register
announcing the preliminary list of reviewers for
a three-week public comment period. A third
Federal Register notice will announce the final
list of peer reviewers and provide registration
instructions for those who plan to attend the
public peer review meeting. Comments on the
draft health effects documents received during
the 60-day public comment period will be made
available to the peer reviewers for their
consideration prior to the meeting.
For More Information
To view the Federal Register notice, nominate
an expert to serve on the peer review panel, or
view the draft health effects documents visit the
EPA contractor, Versar, Inc., online using the
following URL:
http://peerreview.versar.com/epa/pfoa.
For information on the draft health effects
documents contact Joyce M. Donohue by phone
(202-566-1098) or by email
(donohue j oyce(g),epa. gov).
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