EPA provided an update on the work the agency has been doing under its PFAS Action Plan in a news release November 7. The agency highlighted the release of a Systematic Review Protocol for five per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) toxicity assessments being developed under the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Program. The five PFAS included in the protocol are: perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS), and perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA).
Although the Systematic Review Protocol summarizes all methods in one document, the agency stated there will be five separate IRIS assessments. These assessments build upon previous PFAS assessments that have already been developed by EPA. The protocol includes a summary of why these specific PFAS were prioritized, as well as descriptions of the objectives and specific aims of the assessments. On November 8, EPA published in the Federal Register the notice of public comment period. The public has until December 23, 2019 to provide feedback to the agency.
In addition to this assessment, EPA still plans to issue its proposed regulatory determination for PFOA and PFAS by the end of the year. The news release stated that the agency is “gathering and evaluating information to determine if regulation is appropriate for other chemicals in the PFAS family.” EPA also plans to propose nationwide drinking water monitoring for PFAS under the next UCMR monitoring cycle, though the news release did not specify which specific PFAS the agency is considering.