USEPA Releases Updated Health Advisories for PFOA & PFOS
The USEPA released updated interim drinking water health advisories (HA) for PFOA and PFOS, and new advisories for PFBS and GenX.
The new interim HA for PFOA is 0.004 parts per trillion (ppt) (or 4 parts per quadrillion (ppq), which USEPA references is below the ability to detect at this time. Below are links to EPA documents with some snips of text from each, including text that this is advisory and non-regulatory.
Drinking Water Health Advisories (HAs) | USEPA
USEPA is issuing interim, updated drinking water health advisories for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) that replace those USEPA issued in 2016. The updated advisory levels, which are based on new science and consider lifetime exposure, indicate that some negative health effects may occur with concentrations of PFOA or PFOS in water that are near zero and below USEPA’s ability to detect at this time. The lower the level of PFOA and PFOS, the lower the risk to public health. USEPA recommends states, Tribes, territories, and drinking water utilities that detect PFOA and PFOS take steps to reduce exposure. Most uses of PFOA and PFOS were voluntarily phased out by U.S. manufacturers, although there are a limited number of ongoing uses, and these chemicals remain in the environment due to their lack of degradation.
USEPA’s health advisories, which identify the concentration of chemicals in drinking water at or below which adverse health effects are not anticipated to occur, are: 0.004 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA, 0.02 ppt for PFOS, 10 ppt for GenX chemicals, and 2,000 ppt for PFBS. Health advisories are non-regulatory and reflect USEPA’s assessment of the best available peer-reviewed science. The interim updated health advisories for PFOA and PFOS supersede USEPA’s 2016 health advisories for PFOA and PFOS.
On August 26, 2020, NYS adopted new drinking water standards for public water systems that set maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) of 10 micrograms per liter (µg/L) or 10 parts per trillion (10 ppt) each for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), and 1 µg/L or 1 part per billion (1 ppb) for 1,4-dioxane. On March 10, 2022, the New York State Drinking Water Council (NYSDWC) introduced proposed amendments to future Emerging Contaminant (EC) monitoring of Public Water Supply systems. Of the 23 EC-listed PFAS compounds, identified by USEPA Method 533, four (4) additional EC-listed PFAS compounds are being considered for MCL development. They are:
- PFHxS
- PFHpA
- PFNA
- PFDA
If you need assistance navigating the emerging contaminants regulations or determining the presence of PFAS in your water supply, please do not hesitate to reach out to Mark Williams, P.G. at 518.786.7463 or [email protected]