A couple of items regarding PFAS that may be of interest:
FDA National Food Survey: Earlier today the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released the results of a national survey for PFAS in processed foods.
From the FDA press released: “Results of this survey showed that 164 of the 167 foods tested had no detectable levels of PFAS. Three food samples collected as part of the FDA’s latest testing effort had detectable levels of PFAS: fish sticks, canned tuna and protein powder….the FDA has no scientific evidence that the levels of PFAS found in the samples tested indicate a need to avoid any particular food in the food supply.”
Here are the FDA’s reported results for 16 tested PFAS ( Analytical Results for PFAS in 2021 Total Diet Study Sampling (Parts Per Trillion)_Dataset 4_0).
Link to FDA Press Release:
EPA IRIS Health Risk Assessment for PFBA
A series of five PFAS assessments (PFBA, perfluorohexanoic acid [PFHxA], perfluorohexane
sulfonate [PFHxS], perfluorononanoic acid [PFNA], perfluorodecanoic acid [PFDA], and their associated salts; is being developed by the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Program at the request of US EPA.
This week, EPA released the draft IRIS Health Risk Assessment for PFBA for a 60-day public comment period. A copy of the Federal Register announcement and the draft PFBA Health Risk Assessment are here (Fed Reg_Review PFBA IRIS Health Assess_2021-08-23 PFBA_TOXREVIEW_EXTERNAL_REVIEW_AUG_2021 ). In the Executive Summary, based on the review of available health effects studies, Table ES-1 presents a chronic (non-cancer) Reference Dose (RfD) of 1×10-3 mg/kg-day (based on liver and thyroid effects) for PFBA. If that RfD value were to be used by EPA to develop a drinking water regulation, a possible calculation of the Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) would be as follows:
MCLG = (RfD x body weight x Relative Source Contribution) divided by (drinking water daily intake).
EPA typically uses 70 kg for the body weight of an adult, 20% (0.2) for the Relative Source Contribution and 2 L/day for drinking water intake. There is no indication at present that EPA is considering developing an MCLG or MCL for PFBA.
In the same Federal Register (enclosed) EPA is requesting nominations for an IRIS Peer Review Panel to review the health risk assessments of PFBA and the other four PFAS listed above.
