EPA-820-N-16-001
Spring 2016
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Newsletter
FSTRAG
FEDERAL-STATE TOXICOLOGY RISK ANALYSIS COMMITTEE
What Is FSTRAC?
I In 1985, Drs. Joseph Cotruvo, Edward Ohanian, and Penny Fenner-Crisp of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's (EPA's) Office of Science and Technology, Health and Ecological Criteria Division,
started FSTRAC to build a better relationship with states and tribes to exchange research priorities and
results, policy concerns regarding water-related human health risk assessment, and technical information.
FSTRAC is made up of representatives from state and tribal health and environmental agencies and EPA
Headquarters and Regional personnel. As described on the EPA FSTRAC Web page (http://www2.epa.gov/
water-research/basic-information-fstrac), FSTRAC is an integral part of EPA's communication strategy with
states and tribes. FSTRAC fosters cooperation, consistency, and an understanding of EPA's and different
states' and tribe's goals and problems in human health risk assessment. It allows states, tribes and the federal
government to work together on issues related to the development and implementation of regulations and
criteria under the Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act.
Recent Webinars
FSTRAC holds several webinars each year to share
information through presentations and discussions
regarding human health risk analysis and the water
medium of exposure.
September 2015 FSTRAC Webinar
EPA held a FSTRAC Webinar in September 2015
during which the following topics were discussed:
Update on Human Health Criteria and Drinking Water
Support (presented by Ms. Elizabeth [Betsy] Behl, OW/
EPA): Ms. Behl provided an overview of EPA Office
of Science and Technology, Health and Ecological
Criteria Division's recent accomplishments and a
preview of the 2016 work plan. Accomplishments
included publication of drinking water health
advisories for the cyanotoxins microcystins and cylin-
drospermopsin, finalizing updated human health
ambient water quality criteria, publishing a literature
review on coliphage as a viral indicator, and pub-
lishing technical support materials to support 2012
recreational water quality criteria. The 2016 work
plan was comprised of numerous projects, including
developing human health benchmarks for pesticides
(HHBPs), publication of health advisories for perfluo-
rooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate
(PFOS), and development of recreational water quality
criteria for cyanotoxins.
PFOA-PFOS OST Draft Health Effects Documents and
Peer Review (presented by Dr. Joyce Donohue, OW/EPA):
Dr. Donohue provided background information on
development of drinking water health advisories for
perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane
sulfonate (PFOS). Information on the draft health
effects support documents released for peer review in
2014 was presented. Topics included characteristics,
uses, and biochemical properties; information on
The purpose of this newsletter is to keep Federal-State Toxicology and Risk Analysis Committee (FSTRAC)
members up-to-date on current developments in toxicology, risk analysis, and water quality criteria and standards.
This newsletter also provides information on recent FSTRAC webinars and upcoming events. Please share this
newsletter with anyone you think might be interested in these topics. If you are interested in joining FSTRAC,
please contact the FSTRAC Chair, Dr. Shamima Akhter (Akhter.Shamima@epa.gov).
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toxicokinetics; available epidemiology and animal
studies; draft reference dose (RfD) values; and cancer
findings. Dr. Donohue also presented the major peer
review comments.
Pharmaceutical Water Screening Values (presented by
Ms. Ashley Suchomel, Minnesota Department of Health):
Ms. Suchomel presented information on a rapid
assessment method required by the Minnesota
Department of Health that could be performed effi-
ciently and with limited information sources to assess
and prioritize a large number of pharmaceuticals,
including commonly prescribed pharmaceuticals not
currently included in water monitoring programs.
She provided information on the pharmaceuticals
assessed, the methods for assessing pharmaceuticals,
results of the assessments, and how to use the derived
water screening values.
EPA Drinking Water Health Advisories for Cyanotoxins (pre-
sented by Dr. Lesley D'Anglada, OW/EPA): Dr. D'Anglada
provided a detailed summary of EPA Health
Advisories for microcystins and cylindrospermop-
sin. These health advisories were published in June,
2015. Along with the health advisories, EPA also
published a cyanotoxin management document as
a companion to the HAs. The document is designed
to provide information and a framework that Public
Water Systems and others can consider to inform their
decisions on managing the risks from cyanotoxins to
drinking water. Additional information is provided
on EPA's CyanoHABs website (http://www.epa.gov/
nutrient-policy-data/cyanohabs).
A Cross-Sectional Study on Low-Level Exposure to Manganese
from Drinking Water and Children's Neurobehavioral
Function (presented by Dr. Maryse Bouchard, Universite de
Montreal): Dr. Bouchard provided background infor-
mation on manganese exposure and neurotoxicity in
occupational settings, mechanisms of toxicity, and
manganese in water and food, as well as information
on the vulnerability of children to manganese and the
neurotoxic effects of manganese in children. She pre-
sented detailed information on the New Brunswick,
Canada, study on low-level exposure to manganese in
drinking water in New Brunswick and children's neu-
robehavioral function, including preliminary results.
December 2015 FSTRAC Webinar
EPA held a FSTRAC Webinar in December 2015
during which the following topics were discussed:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Updated Human
Health Ambient Water Quality Criteria (presented by
Dr. Jamie Strong, OW/EPA): Dr. Strong presented an
overview of EPA's updated human health ambient
water quality criteria. In June 2015, EPA updated
its national recommended water quality criteria for
human health for 94 chemical pollutants to reflect the
latest scientific information and EPA policies, includ-
ing updated fish consumption rate, body weight,
drinking water intake, health toxicity values, bioac-
cumulation factors, and relative source contributions.
EPA water quality criteria provide recommendations
to states and tribes authorized to establish water qual-
ity standards under the Clean Water Act.
EPA Update on HAB Recreational AWOC (presented
by Mr. John Ravenscroft, OW/EPA): Mr. Ravenscroft
described the development of recreational ambient
water quality criteria for microcystins and cylindros-
permopsin using the same peer-reviewed science that
informed the drinking water health advisories. EPA is
currently reviewing the state of the science describing
the human health effects from exposures to cyanobac-
teria and the two toxins. The recreational criteria will
focus on a recreational scenario where immersion and
incidental ingestion of ambient water are likely. EPA
is currently planning to solicit public comment on the
draft recreational criteria by fall 2016.
Radionuclide Pilot Study Results: Polonium-210 Occurrence
in Minnesota (presented by Dr. James Jacobus, Minnesota
Department of Health): Dr. Jacobus presented informa-
tion on the polonium-210 (Po-210) pilot study design,
summary of results, major findings, future steps,
and health risk assessment. He noted that the pilot
study focuses on Po-210 because it is a potent alpha
emitter and known human carcinogen, and that con-
centrations of radium-226 (the "parent" of Po-210) is
elevated in Minnesota. One of the major study find-
ings was that Po-210 was found at low levels in many
aquifers sampled.
FSTRAC Newsletter
Spring 2016
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Environmental Surveillance and Monitoring - The Next
Frontier for Pathway-Based High Throughput Technology
(presented by Dr. Daniel L. Villeneuve): Dr. Villeneuve
noted that sources of pathway-based bioeffects data
are growing rapidly and that Adverse Outcome
Pathways (AOPs) offer a formal framework for linking
pathway-based bioeffects to hazards of concern for
ecological and/or human health risk assessment. He
noted that AOPs, along with complementary exposure
tools being developed by EPA's Chemical Safety for
Sustainability (CSS) research program, offer potential
new data streams to support water quality guideline
and criteria development.
Incorporation of DU-MIS ("ISM") Investigation Methods in
Environmental Risk Assessments (presented by Dr. Roger
Brewer, Hawai'i Department of Health): Dr. Brewer pre-
sented information on the limitations in the use of
discrete soil sample data, including determining
the extent of contamination, making comparisons
to screening levels, and estimating exposure area
mean. He also provided information on the basics of
"Decision Unit (DU)" and "Multi Increment Sample
(MIS)" (also known as "Incremental Sampling
Methodology or "ISM").
Information from States Developing Guidance for Specific Chemicals
Criteria Values
Minnesota Department of Health
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is
currently developing human health-based values for
several chemicals of potential interest to the group
(anatoxin-a; clothianidin; 2,4-D; 17-alpha ethinyl-
estradiol; tetrahydrofuran; and thiamethoxam). MDH
anticipates that these reviews will be completed in
the next 2 (17-alpha ethinylestradiol & clothianidin)
to 4 months (anatoxin-a; 2,4-D; tetrahydrofuran; and
thiamethoxam).
Risk Assessment Issues
Drinking Water
Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention
More than half of Maine residents rely on a private
well for their drinking water, and about 10% of those
wells have too much arsenic. Therefore it is important
to understand what residents can do to reduce their
exposure to arsenic. Maine CDC receives about 1,000
phone calls each year from residents with questions
about their well water. What many callers want to
know is what they can do to keep their families safe,
and specifically, if it is safe to take a bath in water
high in arsenic. With this context, the Maine CDC
joined with colleagues from the U.S. CDC to assess
remaining arsenic exposure sources among families
that have arsenic in their well water and that have
switched to bottled water or installed an arsenic
treatment system at the kitchen sink. The results of
this study "Assessing arsenic exposure in households
using bottled water or point-of-use treatment systems
to mitigate well water contamination" were published
in Science of the Total Environment this February
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/
S0048969715311190).
Clean Water
A Practitioner's Guide to the Biological Condition
Gradient: A Framework to Describe Incremental
Change in Aquatic Ecosystems
In February, HECD released the technical support
document, A Practitioner's Guide to the Biological
Condition Gradient: A Framework to Describe
Incremental Change in Aquatic Ecosystems. This doc-
ument outlines a scientific framework, the biological
condition gradient (BCG), which states, territories,
and tribes can use to interpret biological responses to
increasing effects of stressors on aquatic ecosystems.
The BCG framework can be populated with state or
regional data to develop a quantitative model using
expert judgment that describes ecosystem changes
from an undisturbed condition to a severely altered
FSTRAC Newsletter
Spring 2016
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condition. This document provides a common lan-
guage that maybe helpful to interpret the condition of
aquatic resources across state and regional boundar-
ies, even when biological assessment approaches may
differ.
In conjunction with other biological assessment indi-
cators and methods, this tool can be used to assist
states, territories and tribes to describe baseline con-
ditions, help identify high quality waters and evaluate
potential for improvement in degraded waters, track
changes in condition and support development of bio-
logical criteria.
Please contact Dana Thomas (thomas.dana@epa.gov),
or technical staff, Susan Jackson (jackson.susank@
epa.gov), with any questions.
For more information look here: http://www.epa.
gov/wqc/biological-assessment-technical-assistance-
documents-states-tribes-and-territories
Drinking Water Contaminant Occurrence
Information
Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule
EPA uses the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring
Rule (UCMR) program to collect data for contami-
nants suspected to be present in drinking water, but
that do not have health-based standards set under the
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Every five years EPA
develops a new list of UCMR contaminants, largely
based on the Contaminant Candidate List (CCL).
The third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule
(UCMR 3) was published in the Federal Register on
May 2, 2012. UCMR 3 requires monitoring for 30
contaminants: 28 chemicals and 2 viruses. The latest
UCMR 3 data summary, reflecting results reported
through December 2015, was posted to http://www.
epa.gov/dwucmr. Updates occur approximately quar-
terly and EPA anticipates that additional reference
material will be made available to assist with the
assessment of the UCMR 3 data. Please keep in mind
that this dataset is not complete. UCMR 3 monitor-
ing occurred through December 2015, and data are
expected to be reported to EPA through the summer
of 2016. These results are subject to change following
further review by the analytical laboratory, the public
water system, the State and EPA.
The fourth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring
Rule (UCMR 4) was proposed on December 11,
2015. The proposal outlines monitoring for 30 chem-
ical contaminants between 2018 and 2020 using
analytical methods developed by EPA and con-
sensus organizations. This monitoring provides a
basis for future regulatory determinations and, as
warranted, actions to protect public health. The
list of proposed analytical methods and contam-
inants is posted at http://www.epa.gov/dwucmr/
fourth-unregulated-contaminant-monitoring-rule.
Publications Pertinent to Drinking Water Issues
A.E. Smith, et al. 2016. Assessing arsenic exposure
in households using bottled water or point-of-
use treatment systems to mitigate well water
contamination. Science of the Total Environment.
Volume 544, 15 February 2016, Pages 701-710.
doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.11.136
Upcoming Events and Conferences
Spring 2016 FSTRAC Webinar
The Spring 2016 FSTRAC Webinar is scheduled for
Wednesday, April 13, 2016, from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m.
(Eastern Time).
Below is the draft agenda for the webinar.
• 2016 Priorities for EPAs Health and Ecological
Criteria Division - Colleen Flaherty, EPA OW
• Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule
(UCMR 3) Update - Melissa Simic, EPA OW
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Spring 2016
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• Arsenic Exposure in Maine Homes with POU
Treatment or Bottled Water Use - Andy Smith
and Tom Simones, Maine Center for Disease
Control & Prevention
• The Impact of High Early Life Water Intake Rates
and Short-Term Effects for Deriving Health-
Protective Drinking Water Criteria - Helen
Goeden, Minnesota Department of Health
• State Hot Topics
If you are interested in joining the mailing list for
FSTRAC to receive information about the FSTRAC
Webinars and other relevant information, please
contact the contractor for EPA's FSTRAC meetings
(susan.lanberg@tetratech.com).
Peer Review of Draft National Toxicology
Program (NTP) Monograph on
Immunotoxicity Associated with Exposure
to PFOA or PFOS - July 19,2016
The Draft NTP Monograph on Immunotoxicity
Associated with Exposure to PFOA or PFOS will be
available by June 7, 2016. The meeting will be webcast
(registration required, http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/about/
org/monopeerrvw/meetings/mdex.html).
SETAC North America Annual Meeting
SETAC will be holding its 37th annual North America
meeting on November 6-10, 2016, in Orlando, Florida.
Additional information is provided on the SETAC
Website: http://orlando.setac.org/
SOT Annual Meeting
SOT will be holding its 56th annual meeting
on March 12-16, 2017, in Baltimore, Maryland.
Information about the March 2017 meeting and other
upcoming events is provided on the SOT website:
https://www.toxicology.org/events/am/amToxexpo.asp
EPA IRIS Upcoming Events
EPA IRIS holds public workshops on issues in risk
assessment. Additional information is provided on
the EPA IRIS workshop website: http://cfpub.epa.gov/
ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=307738
FSTRAC Newsletter
Spring 2016
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