EPA-820-N-24-007

FEDERAL-STATE TOXICOLOGY RISK ANALYSIS COMMITTEE

What Is FSTRAC?

FSTRAC's mission is to strengthen relationships and cooperation among the EPA, states and Tribes
through the exchange of technical information primarily regarding water-related human health and
risk assessment and also share information on ecological effects related to water quality criteria. FSTRAC
is composed of current representatives from governmental agencies (state, Tribal, federal health and envi-
ronmental agencies, and other regulatory authorities) and representatives from the Association of State
Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA) and the Association of Clean Water Administrators (ACWA).
The goal of FSTRAC is to share information that supports the development of well-rounded, integrated
approaches to effects assessment, risk assessment, risk management, risk communication, and standard-set-
ting for drinking water, groundwater, and surface water contaminants. Specific objectives of FSTRAC
include:

•	To foster cooperation, consistency, and an understanding of goals and problems in human health and
ecological risk assessment for contaminants in water.

•	To allow the exchange of technical information, including toxicity/exposure data and analysis, and
methodologies and assumptions related to the development and implementation of regulations, criteria,
advisories, and other toxicity values under the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act, and
other state and Tribal rules and policies as applicable.

•	To allow the exchange of information on research priorities and results.

•	To share science policy concerns regarding water-related human health and ecological risk assessment.

The purpose of this newsletter is to update Federal-State Toxicology and Risk Analysis Committee (FSTRAC) members
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 those who
may be interested in these topics. If you are interested in joining FSTRAC, please contact the FSTRAC Co-Chairs,
Dr. Shamima Akhter (Akhter.Shamima@epa.gov) or Ms. Katie Fallace (Katie.Fallace@state.mn.us).

Recent Webinars

FSTRAC holds several webinars each year to share
information through presentations and discussions
regarding human health risk analysis and water
quality issues.

Health and Ecological Criteria Division (OST/

HECD) for the current fiscal year (FY), including
publishing the Final PFAS National Primary Drinking
Water Rule, developing Technical Support Materials:
Developing Alternative Recreational Criteria for
Waters Contaminated by Predominantly Non-Human
Fecal Sources, releasing the Metals Aquatic Life
Criteria and Chemistry Map with U.S. Geological
Survey-National Water Information System
(USGS-NWIS)-based states layers, and publishing

Spring 2024

Health and Ecological Criteria Division Update on FY24

Priorities (presented by Colleen Flaherty, HECD/OST/OW/
EPA). Ms. Flaherty described the major accomplish-
ments of the EPA's Office of Science and Technology,

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Understanding Lagoon Requirements Under 40 C.F.R.
Part 503: Best Management Practices for Use or
Disposal of Sewage Sludge, Part 1 - Land Application
of Sewage Sludge Removed from Lagoons. She men-
tioned that the EPA OST/HECD's priorities for the
current FY include developing final perfluoroocta-
noic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid
(PFOS) aquatic life criteria, per- and polyfluoroalkyl
substances (PFAS) acute aquatic life benchmarks
for eight chemicals, human health criteria for PFAS
(PFOA, PFOS, hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid
[HFPO-DA]), perfluorobutane sulfonic acid [PFBS]),
and additional quantitative polymerase chain reaction
(qPCR) recreational water quality criteria (entero-
cocci). Ms. Flaherty mentioned that additional OST/
HECD priorities for the current FY including pro-
viding support for Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
processes including Contaminant Candidate List 6,
Regulatory Determination 5, and Six Year Review 4;
state-specific nutrient criteria development projects;
the EPA's National Harmful Algal Bloom Program
and the Interagency Working Group for Harmful
Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research Control Act:

South Florida Assessment and National Assessment;
streamlining development and implementation of
biological condition gradients; and developing a draft
risk assessment for PFOA and PFOS in biosolids.

ToMEx: Toxicity of Microplastics Explorer (presented by
Leah Thornton Hampton, Southern California Coastal Water
Research Project). Dr. Thornton Hampton mentioned
that the Southern California Coastal Water Research
Project (SCCWRP) held a microplastics health effects
workshop (beginning in fall 2020 with a public webi-
nar series) which assembled experts from across the
world in government, industry, and academia. The
workshop focused on determining how microplastics
negatively impact aquatic organisms, prioritizing
the microplastic characteristics of greatest biological
concern, and identifying health-based thresholds for
microplastics. SCCWRP developed ToMEx, which is
a tool that summarizes, explores, and analyzes micro-
plastics data, to meet specific workshop goals. ToMEx
is useful for other research applications and informing
management decisions, including identifying gaps in
knowledge, describing toxicity patterns across studies,
and modeling exercises. ToMEx provides information

on effects studies, plastic leachate, chemical sorption,
and chemical co-exposures. ToMEX 1.0 (for both
aquatic organisms and human health) is available at
https://microplastics.sccwrp.org. Dr. Hampton men-
tioned that an updated version of ToMEx (2.0) will
be released publicly later this year with data from 290
manuscripts on aquatic organisms and 78 manuscripts
on human health.

Final Human Health Toxicity Assessments for
Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonic
Acid (PFOS) (presented by Brittany Jacobs and Casey
Lindberg, HECD/0ST/0W/EPA). Dr. Jacobs mentioned that
there was a need to develop PFOA and PFOS toxicity
assessments to support the PFAS National Primary
Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR). She described
the timeline for developing these toxicity assess-
ments, starting in March 2021 with the final positive
regulatory determination for PFOA and PFOS. Dr.
Jacobs described the overall process for developing the
NPDWR including the assessment conclusions that
directly impact the process (evaluating data availabil-
ity, establishing the Maximum Contaminant Level
Goal [MCLG], and developing rule analyses) and the
assessment conclusions that indirectly impact the
process (setting the standard as closely as feasible to
the MCLG and benefit-cost information). To develop
the PFOA and PFOS toxicity assessments, an EPA
Science Working Group was formed, best available
science and systematic review methods were used,
human health risk assessment guidance and meth-
ods were followed, and the draft toxicity assessments
underwent external peer review by the EPA Science
Advisory Board (SAB) PFAS Review Panel and a
60-day public comment period. Dr. Jacobs described
the process for synthesizing PFOA and PFOS health
effects using the best available science, with evidence
indicating health effects in five health outcomes after
PFOA exposure and five health outcomes after PFOS
exposure. She mentioned that PFOA and PFOS were
each classified as Likely to Be Carcinogenic to Humans
via the oral route of exposure according to agency
guidance, noncancer toxicity values indicate that
adverse effects are observed after low dose exposure
in humans, and cancer toxicity values indicate that
PFOA and PFOS are likely potent carcinogens.

FSTRAC Newsletter ~ Spring 2024

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ORD Human Health Toxicity Value for Perfluoropropanoic
Acid (PFPrA) (presented by Beth Owens, CPHEA/ORD/EPA).

Dr. Owens presented on the initiation and publica-
tion of the recent ORD Human Health Toxicity Value
for Perfluoropropanoic Acid (PFPrA) assessment.
Wastewater sampling data around an active manufac-
turing plant from 2020 to 2021 revealed that PFPrA
was among the PFAS with the highest concentrations
and unknown toxicological impacts. The EPA's Office
of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA)
requested technical support from EPA's Office of
Research and Development (ORD) and nominated
PFPrA for evaluation. ORD reviewed publicly avail-
able and industry toxicological information on PFPrA.
This informed the development of a toxicity assess-
ment for site-specific evaluation of chemicals under
the SDWA in support of preliminary water screening
of PFAS contamination. Dr. Owens noted that ORD
modeled the PFPrA assessment after the Provisional
Peer Reviewed Toxicity Value (PPRTV) assessment
format. The development of this fit for purpose
assessment product followed the PPRTV process and
leveraged existing literature databases. She described
the literature search and screening used and the can-
didate PFPrA point of departure human equivalent
doses (PODHEDs) for chronic reference dose (RfD)
derivation, with increased relative liver weight in adult
males selected as the endpoint. Dr. Owens mentioned
that the human health toxicity value for PFPrA under-
went internal peer review by EPA ORD scientists and
a contractor-led, independent letter external peer
review. She noted that this process serves as an exam-
ple for deriving human health reference values for
site-specific evaluation of chemicals under SDWA.

Elevated Levels of Ultrashort- and Short-Chain Perfluoroalkyl
Acids in US Homes, Water, and People (presented by Amina
Salamova and Stephanie Eick, Emory University, Rollins
School of Public Health). Dr. Salamova noted that the
purpose of this study was to examine the current
exposure patterns of PFAS in households and their
residents, as well as to examine the associations
between PFAS levels in different matrices to under-
stand exposure pathways. She described that paired
dust, drinking water (tap and well), blood serum,
and urine samples were collected from 81 homes in
Indiana from August to December 2020. Dr. Salamova

noted that samples were analyzed using liquid chro-
matography tandem mass spectrometry for 47 PFAS.
She mentioned that ultrashort- and short-chain PFAS
were the most abundant PFAS in all matrices (dust,
drinking water, serum, urine), with trifluoroacetic
acid (TFA) and PFPrA together contributing up to
-95% of the total PFAS levels. Dr. Salamova noted that
dust ingestion and consumption of drinking water
could be important pathways for the ultrashort- and
short-chain PFAS and that associations between the
levels of precursors in dust and the ultrashort- and
short-chain PFAS in serum suggest common sources.

PFAS Sampling Project at Public Water Systems in Oregon
(presented by Gregg Baird, Oregon Health Authority and
Julie Harvey, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality).

Ms. Harvey noted that the objective of the PFAS
sampling project at public water systems (PWSs) in
Oregon was to ensure that customers were not being
exposed to harmful levels of PFAS in their drinking
water. She mentioned that the study targeted smaller
PWSs serving fewer than 10,000 people near suspected
PFAS sources that had not been sampled previously.
Mr. Baird mentioned that the Oregon drinking water
health advisory levels (HALs) for PFAS of 30 parts
per trillion (ppt) for PFOS, PFOA, perfluorononanoic
(PFNA), and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS)
were used to evaluate the sampling results, and that
these values have since been retired in lieu of the
new PFAS Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs)
released by the EPA. During the initial round of sam-
pling in October 2021 through March 2022, he noted
that PFAS was not detected (with a reporting limit of
approximately 10 ppt) in 153 of the 160 samples ana-
lyzed using EPA Method 533, and that the remaining
7 samples had PFAS detections at or below 30 ppt. Mr.
Baird noted that after this time, the laboratory was able
to achieve lower minimum reporting limits (MRLs)
(approximately 4 ppt) and resampling was performed
in 2023 at PWSs that had detections below the MRL in
the initial round. Of the 35 samples collected during
resampling, 17 had PFAS detections, with one sample
that had concentrations above the HALs. In total, 16
out of 143 PWSs sampled had PFAS detections. Ms.
Harvey mentioned that 63% of the 143 PWSs sampled
for this project are considered disadvantaged com-
munities (under Oregon Health Authority's criteria)

FSTRAC Newsletter ~ Spring 2024

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4

and that 71% of the PWSs with detections are in dis-
advantaged communities. She mentioned that Oregon
plans to perform additional sampling at PWSs serving
less than 3,300 people and that approximately 55% of
these PWSs are considered disadvantaged.

Drinking Water Quality and Social Vulnerability Linkages at
the System Level in the United States (presented by Bridget
R. Scanlon, University of Texas at Austin, Jackson School of
Geosciences). Dr. Scanlon mentioned that under the
Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA), $31
billion has been allocated over 5 years for drinking
water concerns, and that 49% of this funding has been
targeted for disadvantaged communities (DACs). She
noted that the definition of DACs is currently based
primarily on median household income and that
the EPA and the White House environmental justice
tools for water are based mostly on proximity to point
sources, Superfund sites, hazardous waste, under-
ground storage, and wastewater discharge. To evaluate
drinking water and social vulnerability linkages at
the system level in the United States, Dr. Scanlon
used community water system service area boundar-
ies, health-based (HB) violations from the EPA's Safe
Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), and
a modified social vulnerability index (mSVI) using
CDC data for socioeconomics, race and language, and
demographics and housing. She described the main

findings for this study, including that HB violations in
community water systems are dominated by nonpoint
source contaminants (inorganics including arsenic,
radionuclides, nitrate) with low impacts from point
sources from organic contaminants (0.6%), and that
HB violations were found primarily in small systems
in rural settings. She noted that community water
systems with HB violations disproportionately impact
socially vulnerable communities, with 70% of com-
munity water systems having HB violations ranked in
high mSVI. Dr. Scanlon recommended that the DAC
definition should consider other parameters beyond
median household income and that the EPA and the
White House should consider modifying their envi-
ronmental justice tools to consider nonpoint source
contaminants.

Scanlon, B.R., Fakhreddine, S., Reedy, R.C., Yang, Q.
& Malito, J.G. 2022. Drivers of spatiotemporal vari-
ability in drinking water quality in the United States.
Environmental Science & Technology 56:12965-12974
doi:10.1021/acs.est.lc08697.

Scanlon, B.R., Reedy, R.C., Fakhreddine, S., Yang, Q.
& Pierce, G. Drinking water quality and social vulner-
ability linkages at the system level in the United States.
2023. Environmental Research Letters 18, 094039
doi:10.1088/1748-9326/ace2d9.

Information from EPA, States and Tribes Developing Guidance
for Specific Chemicals

Criteria Values

PFAS National Primary Drinking Water
Regulation

On April 26, 2024, the EPA published in the Federal
Register the final National Primary Drinking Water
Regulation for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
(PFAS). The regulation establishes (1) legally enforce-
able maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for PFOA,
PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, and hexafluoropropylene oxide
dimer acid (HFPO-DA) individually, and (2) a Hazard
Index MCL for PFAS mixtures containing at least two
or more of PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, and PFBS.

The NPDWR establishes non-enforceable maximum
contaminant level goals (MCLG) of zero for PFOA
and PFOS. This reflects the latest science showing
that there is no level of exposure to these two PFAS
without risk of health impacts. The enforceable MCLs
for PFOA and PFOS individually are 4.0 ppt. This
standard will reduce exposure from these two PFAS
in drinking water to the lowest levels that are feasible
for effective implementation. For PFNA, PFHxS, and
HFPO-DA (GenX Chemicals), the EPA established
the MCLs of 10 ppt, the same as the MCLGs for these
three PFAS.

FSTRAC Newsletter ~ Spring 2024

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Decades of research show mixtures of different
chemicals can have additive health effects, even if the
individual chemicals are each present at lower levels.
Therefore, mixtures of two or more of PFNA, PFHxS,
PFBS, and GenX Chemicals will be regulated with a
Hazard Index MCL of 1 and used to determine if the
combined levels pose a potential risk for non-cancer
health effects. The hazard quotients that make up
the Hazard Index MCL consist of the level of each
PFAS measured in drinking water to the specific
PFAS health-based water concentrations. The Hazard
Index MCL will protect communities from the addi-
tive health effects of multiple PFAS when they occur
together.

In addition to the standards, the final rule requires the
following:

•	Community water systems (CWS) and non-tran-
sient non-community water systems (NTNCWS)
must monitor for these PFAS at every entry point
to the distribution system.

•	Initial monitoring must be completed within 3
years, or by April 26, 2027, followed by ongoing
compliance monitoring.

•	Starting in 2027, public notification is required
by water systems for monitoring and testing
violations.

•	Starting in 2027, community water systems must
provide the public with information on the levels
of these PFAS in their drinking water in annual
Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs).

•	CWS and NTNCWS have 5 years (by 2029) to
meet the MCLs. Actions to meet the MCLs could
include removing these chemicals through treat-
ment, or switching to an alternative water supply
that meets the standards.

•	Starting in 2029, public notification is required by
water systems that have PFAS in drinking water
which violates one or more of these MCLs.

The EPA expects that over many years the final rule
will prevent PFAS exposure in drinking water for
approximately 100 million people, prevent thousands

of deaths, and reduce tens of thousands of serious
PFAS-attributable illnesses.

The PFAS rule homepage contains fact sheets, com-
monly asked questions, webinar recordings and
presentation materials, and a copy of the Federal
Register Notice.

California Office of Environmental Health Hazard
Assessment's Adoption of Public Health Goals
for PFOA and PFOS

On April 5, 2024, the Office of Environmental Health
Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) of the California
Environmental Protection Agency adopted and
published Public Health Goals (PHGs) for perfluo-
rooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic
acid (PFOS) in drinking water. The PHG of 0.007
parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA is based on kidney
cancer in humans and the PHG of 1 ppt for PFOS
is based on liver and pancreatic tumors in labora-
tory animals. The PHGs are set at a level of risk of
one additional cancer case per one million persons
exposed over a lifetime. The document also presents
health-protective drinking water concentrations for
noncancer health effects. The noncancer health-pro-
tective concentrations are 3 ppt for PFOA, based on
increased risk of liver damage in humans and 2 ppt for
PFOS, based on increased total cholesterol in humans.
For additional information, refer to: https://oehha.
ca.gov/water/report/perfluorooctanoic-acid-pfoa-and-
perfluorooctane-sulfonic-acid-pfos-drinking-water

California State Water Resources Control Board
Adopted a Maximum Contaminant Level for
Hexavalent Chromium

On April 17, 2024, the California State Water
Resources Control Board adopted a Maximum
Contaminant Level (MCL) of 10 parts per billion (ppb)
for hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) in drinking water.
Implementation of the MCL will occur over the next
two to four years, depending on the size of the water
system. Prior to this recent MCL adoption, Cr(VI)
was regulated under the California MCL of 50 ppb for
total chromium.

Cr(VI) is a carcinogen, and has been associated with
numerous adverse noncancer effects, including liver,

FSTRAC Newsletter ~ Spring 2024

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kidney, and reproductive toxicity. The California
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment's
(OEHHA) Public Health Goal (PHG) for Cr(VI),
established in 2011, is 0.02 ppb based on cancer
effects. A Public Health Goal is the level of a chemical
contaminant in water that does not pose a significant
risk to health. A noncancer health-protective concen-
tration (HPC) of 2 ppb, based on liver toxicity, was
also established. California state law mandates that
MCLs must be set as close to the PHG as possible,
while taking economic and technological feasibility
into account.

OEHHA is currently updating the PHG for Cr(VI),
and has proposed an updated noncancer HPC of 5
ppb using current risk assessment methodologies. An
updated cancer assessment is anticipated sometime
later in the year. The lower of the two HPC values will
be selected as the PHG.

The new MCL will reduce affected Californians'
potential exposure to hexavalent chromium and is a
major step forward in protecting the public health of
Californians.

Technical Information

Now Available: Application of Weight-of-
Evidence Methods for Transparent and
Defensible Numeric Nutrient Criteria

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released
a report titled "Application of Weight-of-Evidence
Methods for Transparent and Defensible Numeric
Nutrient Criteria". This report complements exist-
ing numeric nutrient criteria (NNC) guidance. It
presents weight-of-evidence methods that enable
rigorous and transparent development and integra-
tion of multiple lines of evidence. Given that nutrient
pollution continues to be a widespread problem in
aquatic systems, the development of NNC as part of
water quality standards are a priority to enhance pros-
pects for managing excess nutrients and their effects.
This publication is designed for teams of planners,
decision-makers, technical advisors, and scientific
researchers who are developing or reviewing processes
for deriving NNC or NNC conclusions. For more
information, please visit the report's webpage.

Risk Assessment
Drinking Water

EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule
(UCMR): Fourth Quarterly Release of Nationwide
Data on 29 PFAS and Lithium, Future Rule
Development, and Archival Data Finder

On May 16th, the EPA published the fourth set of
drinking water data collected at public water sys-
tems (PWSs) for 29 PFAS and lithium under the
fifth UCMR (UCMR 5). The agency will continue
to publish results quarterly until completion of data
reporting in 2026. The data collected under UCMR
5 will ensure science-based decision-making and
help the EPA better understand national-level expo-
sure to the 29 PFAS and lithium, where and to what
extent PFAS co-occur with each other, and if com-
munities are disproportionately impacted by these
contaminants. Monitoring results, which can be easily
searched for and downloaded using the UCMR 5 Data
Finder or accessed via data text files, are available

for 4,875 PWSs to date and represent approximately
35% of the total results expected. The UCMR 5 Data
Summary and UCMR 5 website with answers to
common questions have also been updated to reflect
that six of the 29 PFAS for which monitoring data are
being collected are included in the EPA's April 2024
final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation
(NPDWR).

The next cycle, the sixth UCMR (UCMR 6) is already
in early development, with an anticipated proposed
rule publication by mid to late 2025, final rule publi-
cation by late 2026, and monitoring timeframe from
2027 to 2031. The EPA hosted a pre-proposal webinar
in April 2024 (provided here) to discuss potential
UCMR 6 monitoring approaches and related aspects
including the status of drinking water analytical
methods (as discussed in this Federal Register notice),
contaminants being considered, sampling design, and
laboratory approval.

FSTRAC Newsletter ~ Spring 2024

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Additionally, to improve accessibility and trans-
parency of the data from past UCMR monitoring
(UCMR 1-4), the EPA has developed the UCMR
Archival Data Finder and standardized the fields
across the data text files.

North Carolina Department of Environmental
Quality Submits Human Health Risk Assessment
on 1,4-Dioxane

On May 1, 2024, the North Carolina Department of
Environmental Quality has prepared and submitted
a human health risk assessment of 1,4-dioxane in
drinking water, as directed by the General Assembly
(Session Law 2023-137, Section 9(b).). 1,4-dioxane is a
clear liquid primarily used as a solvent in manufactur-
ing processes. It mixes easily with water and degrades
slowly. The chemical is classified as a likely carcinogen
by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, and the
International Agency for Research on Cancer. North
Carolina ranks as a leading state in measured concen-
trations of 1,4-dioxane in public water systems. The
assessment examines the risk of 1,4-dioxane exposure
in drinking water as there are currently no federal
drinking water standards for 1,4-dioxane. Protection
for North Carolinians from 1,4-dioxane in drinking
water would need to come from surface water quality
standards that limit the amount of 1,4-dioxane enter-
ing drinking water supplies, https://www.deq.nc.gov/
news/press-releases/2024/05/01/deq-submits-human-
health-risk-assessment-14-dioxane

Clean Water

Technical Support Materials: Developing
Alternative Recreational Criteria for Waters
Contaminated by Predominantly Non-Human
Fecal Sources

The EPA has published a new document online
entitled, Technical Support Materials: Developing
Alternative Recreational Criteria for Waters
Contaminated by Predominantly Non-Human Fecal
Sources. This peer-reviewed document is expected
to assist states and Tribes in conducting a risk-based
approach for developing recreational water quality
criteria for water bodies mainly affected by non-hu-
man fecal contamination (e.g., birds, runoff from

animal farms and wildlife sanctuaries). The document
includes:

•	A summary of the available science on health risks
from fecal contamination from different sources.

•	Characterization of human health risks from
non-human sources of fecal contamination using
reference and index pathogens.

•	A decision framework incorporating a sanitary
survey and quantitative microbial risk assessment
(QMRA) analyses to evaluate and inform alterna-
tive criteria development.

The resulting alternative water quality criteria will
protect human health at the same level as EPA's 2012
recommended water quality criteria for the protection
of recreational uses. Access additional information
about recreational criteria.

Metals Aquatic Life Criteria and Chemistry Map
(MetALiCC-MAP vl.O)

The EPA released the Metals Aquatic Life Criteria
and Chemistry Map (MetALiCC-MAP vl.O). This
map application provides access to water chem-
istry-derived aquatic life criteria for specific U.S.
Geological Survey-National Water Information
System (USGS-NWIS) stations and Integrated
Compliance Information System-National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (ICIS-NPDES) facili-
ties permitted features (discharge points or outfalls).
NWIS location data are derived from USGS-NWIS
sources. ICIS-NPDES facility location data are derived
from the Enforcement and Compliance History
Online (ECHO) NPDES database. These maps were
designed to support the EPA Regions, states, Tribes,
and other stakeholders in accessing input data to
run bioavailability-based criteria derivation models,
and criteria values derived from the collected water
chemistry data. All water chemistry parameters (tem-
perature, dissolved organic carbon, pH, hardness,
calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, alkalinity,
sulfate, and chloride) for a sample were concurrently
measured, and thus reflect actual environmental
conditions. All water chemistry parameter values are
for the dissolved form. Water chemistry and derived
aquatic life criteria are presented at various levels of

FSTRAC Newsletter ~ Spring 2024

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organization (state, USGS NWIS station, Ecoregion
Level III and Strahler Stream Order within ecore-
gions) and at various percentile values (5th, 10th, 20th
and 25th).

New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation Releases Draft Water Quality
Guidance to Address Emerging Contaminants
from Publicly Owned Treatment Works

On January 10, 2024, New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner
Basil Seggos released new water quality guidance
that will advance New York state's regulation of

the emerging contaminants perfluorooctanoic acid
(PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), and
1,4-dioxane. The draft guidance for publicly owned
treatment plants builds upon guidance released last
year for industrial discharges and supports the state's
ongoing efforts to protect public health and the
environment and prevent exposure to emerging con-
taminants through the protection of drinking water
sources.

For additional information, refer to: https://dec.
ny.gov/news/press-releases/2024/l/dec-releases-
draft-water-quality-guidance-to-address-emerging-
contaminants-from-publicly-owned-treatment-works

Publications

Understanding Lagoon Requirements Under 40
C.F.R. Part 503: Best Management Practices for
Use or Disposal of Sewage Sludge, Part 1 - Land
Application of Sewage Sludge Removed from
Lagoons

In February 2024, the EPA published Part 1 - Land
Application of Sewage Sludge Removed from
Lagoons to explain the management of sewage sludge
removal from wastewater treatment lagoons for land
application. The document that provides wastewa-
ter operators with best management practices for
complying with the Clean Water Act (CWA) when
land applying sewage sludge that has been removed
from lagoon treatment systems. As excess sewage
sludge accumulates in these lagoons over time, their
functionality and effectiveness are reduced. Excess
accumulated sludge requires periodic removal to
maintain full functioning capacity of the wastewa-
ter treatment process within the lagoon. Removal of
sludge also allows operators to make critical infra-
structure repairs and upgrades. The document also
identifies some funding opportunities available to
wastewater operators when cleaning out their lagoons.

Publication of Clean Water Act Laboratory
Methods for PFAS (Method 1633 and Method
1621)

The Clean Water Act Methods Program led the charge
to create the first method capable of measuring PFAS
in a variety of environmental matrices (wastewater,

surface water, groundwater, landfill leachate, soil,
sediment, biosolid, and marine tissue). The CWA
Methods Team collaborated with EPA's Office of
Land and Emergency Management (OLEM), ORD,
and the Department of Defense's (DOD's) Strategic
Environmental Research and Development Program
to design and execute a method validation study that
met CWA and Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act (RCRA) method programs and serve DOD's
need for a validated method. The Office of Water has
recommended use of Method 1633 for use in NPDES
permits as a monitoring requirement for many catego-
ries of industrial wastewater dischargers.

While EPA Method 1633 is capable of measuring 40
of the most common PFAS contaminants, there are
thousands more PFAS in use or already in the envi-
ronment. To fill this analytical need, the Clean Water
Act Methods Program, in collaboration with ORD
and ASTM International, developed EPA Method 1621
to measure Adsorbable Organic Fluorine (AOF) in
wastewater. AOF is not typically found in nature and
combined with characterization data about the source
of a particular wastewater, AOF analysis is a useful
surrogate measurement to identify total PFAS in envi-
ronmental samples, offering a valuable screening tool
for use together with Method 1633. The development
and completion of these two methods is a critical step
towards addressing PFAS discharges from indus-
trial sources; data collected using these high-quality

FSTRAC Newsletter ~ Spring 2024

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9

methods will be the underpinning of the forthcoming
regulations of industrial dischargers, including PFAS
Manufacturers and Metal Finishing Operations.

Refer to the CWA Analytical Methods for Per- and
Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS) webpage for
additional information.

Publication of Draft Clean Water Act Laboratory
Method for 6PPD-q (Method 1634)

The EPA announced on January 30, 2024 the publi-
cation of a draft testing method (EPA Method 1634)
that will enable government agencies, Tribes, and
other groups to determine where and when 6PPD-
quinone is present in local stormwater and surface
waters. Used for more than six decades in tires, 6PPD
is also found in other rubber products such as foot-
wear, synthetic turf infill, and synthetic playground
surfaces. 6PPD reacts with ozone in the air to form
6PPD-quinone, which the EPA-funded research in
2020 found to be linked to the deaths of coho salmon
in urban Puget Sound streams.

Exposures occur when runoff containing the chemical
is washed from parking lots and streets into streams
and other bodies of water. Widespread availability of
a draft EPA analytical method for 6PPD-quinone pro-
vides Tribes and local governments with an important
tool for better understanding stormwater and surface
water quality, to inform how and where to put in place
protections for sensitive salmon, trout, and other
aquatic life from potentially dangerous run-off. The
agency's draft testing method is available for use now.

Refer to the 6PPD-q Using Liquid Chromatography
with Tandem Mass Spectroscopy (LC/MS/MS)
- Method 1634 (Not yet approved) webpage for addi-
tional information.

Water Reuse

The EPA Water Reuse Program publishes a monthly
newsletter. Topics covered in the April 2024 newsletter
included:

•	Onsite Water Reuse Summit: Integration of
Science, Policy and Operation for Safe and
Effective Implementation

•	Water Research Foundation (WRF) Publishes
Report: Occurrence of PFAS Compounds in U.S.
Wastewater Treatment Plants

Refer to the April 2024 WRAP monthly update for
additional information.

Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms: Using
Tools from the Cyanobacteria Assessment
Network to Reduce Exposure

ORD researchers John M. Johnston and Blake
Schaeffer co-authored a column on "Cyanobacterial
Harmful Algal Blooms: Using Tools from the
Cyanobacteria Assessment Network to Reduce
Exposure" in the May 2024 issue of NEHA's journal
of Environmental Health. This article provides back-
ground on the Cyanobacteria Assessment Network,
highlights tools developed through the project, shares
an example of how ORD's tools informed local envi-
ronmental manager decision-making, and discusses
next steps in cyanobacterial modeling.

Brunelle, L., A. Batt, A. Chao, S. Glassmeyer, N. Quinete, D. Alvarez, D. Kolpin, E. Furlong, M. Mills, and D.
Aga. 2024. De facto water reuse - Investigating the fate and transport of chemicals of emerging concern from
wastewater discharge through drinking water treatment using non-targeted analysis and suspect screening.
Environmental Science & Technology 58(5):2468-2478. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c07514.

Carberry, C., J. Bangma, L. Koval, D. Keshava, H. Hartwell, M. Sokolsky, R. Fry, and J. Rager. 2024. Extracellular
vesicles altered by a per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance mixture: in vitro dose-dependent release, chemical
content, and microRNA signatures involved in liver health. Toxicological Sciences 197(2):155—169.
https://doi.org/10.1093/toxsci/kfadl08.

EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 2024. Protocol for the Uranium IRIS Assessment (Oral)
(Preliminary Assessment Materials). EPA/635/R-24/013. EPA, Washington, DC.
https://iris.epa.gov/Document/&deid=342366.

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10

Glassmeyer, S., E. Burns, M. Focazio, E. Furlong, M. Gribble, M. Jahne, S. Keely, A. Kennicutt, D. Kolpin, E.
Medlock Kakaley, and S. Pfaller. 2023. Water, water everywhere, but every drop unique: Challenges in the
science to understand the role of contaminants of emerging concern in management of drinking water
supplies. GeoHealth 7(12):e2022GH000716. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GH000716.

Ibrahim, M.A., H. Wei, and S. Andreescu. 2024. Sensors for emerging water contaminants: overcoming
roadblocks to innovation. Environmental Science & Technology 58(6):2636-2651.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c09889.

Isaacs, K., T. Wall, K. Paul-Friedman, J. Franzosa, H. Goeden, A. Williams, K. Dionisio, J. Lambert, M.
Linnenbrink, A. Singh, J. Wambaugh, A. Bogdan, and C. Greene. 2024. Screening for drinking water
contaminants of concern using an automated exposure-focused workflow, journal of Exposure Science and
Environmental Epidemiology 34:136-147. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-023-00552-y.

Kotlarz, N., T. Guillette, C. Critchley, D. Collier, S. Lea, J. McCord, M. Strynar, M. Cuffney, Z. Hopkins, D.
Knappe, and J. Hoppin. 2024. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl ether acids in well water and blood serum from private
well users residing by a fluorochemical facility near Fayetteville, North Carolina, journal of Exposure Science
and Environmental Epidemiology 34:97-107. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-023-00626-x.

Kotlarz, N., J. McCord, N. Wiecha, R. Weed, M. Cuffney, J. Enders, M. Strynar, D. Knappe, B. Reich, and J.
Hoppin. 2024. Reanalysis of PF05DoA levels in blood from Wilmington, North Carolina, residents, 2017-2018.
Environmental Health Perspectives 132(2):27701. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13339.

Liggett, J., B. Gonzalez, D. Lytle, J. Pressman, D. Dionysiou, W. Lee, S. Harmon, and D. Wahman. 2024. Applying
microelectrodes to investigate aged ductile iron and copper coupon reactivity during free chlorine application.
Water Research 253:121324. https://doi.Org/10.1016/j.watres.2024.121324.

Schaeffer, B., N. Reynolds, H. Ferriby, W. Sails, D. Smith, J. Johnston, and M. Myer. 2024. Forecasting freshwater
cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms for Sentinel-3 satellite resolved U.S. lakes and reservoirs, journal of
Environmental Management 349:119518. https://doi.Org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119518.

Teuschler, L., R. Hertzberg, T. McDonald, Y. Sey, and J. Simmons. 2024. Evaluation of a proportional response
addition approach to mixtures risk assessment and predictive toxicology using data on four trihalomethanes.
Toxics 12(4):240. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxicsl2040240.

Verma, S., B. Mezgebe, C. Hejase, E. Sahle-Demessie, and M. Nadagouda. 2024. Photodegradation and
photocatalysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): A review of recent progress. Next Materials:
2:100077. https://doi.Org/10.1016/j.nxmate.2023.100077.

Upcoming Events and Conferences
Upcoming FSTRAC Webinar

The next FSTRAC Webinar is scheduled for fall 2024.
Additional details, including the date of the next
FSTRAC Webinar, will be provided to FSTRAC mem-
bers in the coming weeks.

SETAC North America Annual Meeting -
Society of Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry

SETAC will be holding its 45th annual North
America meeting on October 20-24, 2024 in Fort
Worth, Texas. Additional information is provided
on the SETAC website: https://www.setac.org/
discover-events/global-meetings/setac-north-america-
45th-annual-meeting.html.

FSTRAC Newsletter ~ Spring 2024

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SOT Annual Meeting -
Society of Toxicology

SOT will be holding its 64th annual meeting on
March 16-20, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. Additional
information is provided on the SOT website:
https://www.toxicology.org/events/am/AM2025/
index, asp.

SRA Annual Meeting -
Society for Risk Analysis

SRA will be holding its 2024 annual meeting in
Austin, Texas from December 8-12, 2024. Additional
information is provided on the SRA website:
https://www.sra.org/events-webinars/
annual-meeting/.

ASDWA Annual Conference:

2024 - Association of State Drinking Water

Administrators

ASDWA will host its 2024 Annual Conference in
St. Louis, Missouri from September 30-October
2, 2024. Additional information is provided on
ASDWA's website: https://www.asdwa.org/event/
asdwa-annual-conference-2024/.

AWRA, UCOWR, NIWR 60th Anniversary
Joint Water Resources Conference -
American Water Resources Association, the
Universities Council on Water Resources,
and the National Institutes for Water
Resources

AWRA, UCOWR, and NIWR will host their 60th
Anniversary Joint Water Resources Conference. The
conference will be hosted in St. Louis, Missouri from
September 30-October 2, 2024. Additional informa-
tion is provided on AWRA's website:
https://www.awra.org/AWRA/Members/
Events_and_Education/Events/2024-Joint-
Conference/2024_Joint_Conference.aspx.

ECOS - Environmental Council of the States

The ECOS will be holding its 2024 ECOS Fall Meeting
in Newport, Rhode Island on September 4-6, 2024.
Additional information is provided on the ECOS web-
site:

https://www.ecos.org/event/2024-ecos-fall-meeting/.

The ECOS will be holding its 2025 ECOS Spring
Meeting in Arlington, Virginia on March 23-26, 2025.
Additional information is provided on the ECOS web-
site:

https://www.ecos.org/vent/2025-ecos-spring-meeting/.

ITRC Webinar - Interstate Technology
Regulatory Council

ITRC is holding the following trainings in late 2024:

•	September 5: 1,4-Dioxane: Science,
Characterization & Analysis, and Remediation

•	September 24: Pump & Treat Optimization

•	October 8: Optimizing Injection Strategies and In
Situ Remediation Performance

•	October 17: Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR)

•	October 22: Contaminants of Emerging Concern
(CEC)

•	November 7: Microplastics

•	November 21: Sediment Cap Chemical Isolation

Additional information is provided on the ITRC web-
site: https://itrcweb.org/events/calendar.

NACWA 2024 Utility Leadership Conference
& 54th Annual Meeting - National
Association of Clean Water Agencies

NACWA will host its 2024 Utility Leadership

Conference and 54th Annual Meeting in

Buffalo, New York from July 23-26, 2024.

More information will be provided on

NACWA's website: https://www.nacwa.org/

conferences-events/2024-utility-leadership-conference

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12

EPA OGWDW Upcoming Events
EPA Drinking Water Training

The EPA OGWDW hosts several trainings and webi-
nars for drinking water professionals, public officials,
and anyone interested in gaining knowledge and
skills related to compliance with the Safe Drinking
Water Act, Building the Capacity of Drinking Water

Systems, Drinking Water Grant Opportunities, Water
Technical Assistance, and more. The webinars are free
of charge and open to the public. Additional informa-
tion, schedules, and registration can be found on the
website here.

EPA ORD Upcoming Events
Upcoming EPA Research Webinars

Registration and additional information is posted to
the series-specific websites closer to the scheduled
date, but people can sign up for email notifications
when registration opens. Marie Schneider is a POC for
the webinars.

•	June 25th from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. ET: Small
Drinking Water Systems Webinar Series:
Inorganics Treatment: Arsenic and Nitrate

•	June 26th from 2:00 to 3:15 p.m. ET: Water
Research Webinar Series: Ecosystem and Human
Health Risks from Tires as a Complex Pollutant

•	July 31st from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET: Harmful
Algal Blooms, Hypoxia, and Nutrients Research
Webinar Series: Nutrients and Climate
Interactions

EPA New Approach Methodologies
Conference

The EPA will be hosting the 4th New Approach
Methodologies (NAMs) Conference on November
5-6, 2024 on NAMs to Reduce Vertebrate Animal
Testing. This will be a hybrid meeting in Research
Triangle Park, North Carolina. Additional infor-
mation is provided on the EPA's NAMs Conference
website: https://www.epa.gov/chemical-research/
epa-nams-conference.

FSTRAC Newsletter ~ Spring 2024

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