Day: April 5, 2024

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

Occurrence and Contaminant Background Support Document for the Final PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EPA 815-R-24-013
April, 2024

Executive Summary

On March 3, 2021 (86 FR 12272; USEPA, 2021a), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its decision to regulate perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).

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Maximum Contaminant Level Goals for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) in Drinking Water

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EPA-815-R-24-010
April, 2024

Background and Purpose

Section 1412(a)(3) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) requires the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to finalize a Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) simultaneously with the publication of a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR). The MCLG is set, as defined in Section 1412(b)(4)(A), at “the level at which no known or anticipated adverse effects on the health of persons occur and which allows an adequate margin of safety.” Consistent with SDWA 1412(b)(3)(C)(i)(V), in developing the MCLG, the EPA considers “the effects of the contaminant on the general population and on groups within the general population such as infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly, individuals with a history of serious illness, or other subpopulations that are identified as likely to be at greater risk of adverse health effects due to exposure to contaminants in drinking water than the general population.” Other factors considered in determining MCLGs for drinking water contaminants include health effects data, toxicity values, cancer classifications, and potential sources of exposure other than drinking water. MCLGs are not regulatory levels and are not enforceable.

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Human Health Toxicity Assessment for Perfluorooctanic Acid (PFOA) and Related Salts

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EPA Document No. 815R24008
April, 2024

Overview of Background Information and Systematic Review Protocol

The methods used to conduct the systematic review for PFOA are consistent with the methods described in the draft and final EPA ORD Staff Handbook for Developing IRIS Assessments (U.S. EPA, 2022b, 2020a) (hereafter referred to as the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Handbook) and a companion publication (Thayer et al., 2022).

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