Pending EPA Health Advisory
for PFOA and PFOS
Board of Directors
May 18, 2016
What are PFOA and PFOS ?
• PFOA = Perfluorooctanoic Acid (C8HF15O2)
• PFOS = Perfluoroctane Sulfonate (C8HF17O3S)
• Key ingredients/byproducts in the production of:
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Consumer Products: Teflon, Scotchgard, Stainmaster, Gore-Tex
Polymers for aircraft and electronics
Paper packaging and wrappers for food (e.g., microwave popcorn bags)
Fire fighting foams
• Initially developed in 1940s
• Phase out in USA began in 2000s
PFOA & PFOS properties
• Very stable, resistant to degradation
• Resistant to water, grease, and stains (lipophobic)
• Newer & more sensitive laboratory technology has revealed widespread
occurrence in environment
• Found in groundwater near manufacturing sites
• EPA review of animal testing & human epidemiological studies indicate
exposure to PFOA & PFOS above certain levels may result in
– Cancer (e.g., kidney)
– Liver effects (e.g., tissue damage)
– Developmental effects on fetuses and infants
EPA Health Advisory
• Health Advisories are non-enforceable drinking water levels
that are intended to provide technical guidance to state
regulators, public health officials, and water utilities
• EPA Provisional Health Advisories issued in 2009
– Developed for short-term (weeks to months) exposure
– PFOA = 400 ng/L (parts per trillion)
– PFOS = 200 ng/L (parts per trillion)
EPA Health Advisory, cont.
• New Pending EPA Lifetime Health Advisory
– Under development since 2009 preliminary value released
– Scheduled to be publically released tomorrow, May 19th
– Release possibly accelerated due to Flint water crisis and recently discovered
PFOA/PFOS groundwater contamination in NY, VT, NH
– Will account for short-term exposure to sensitive sub-populations
– Likely to be set < 100 ng/L (parts per trillion) for combined PFOA + PFOS
• Likely EPA recommendations to accompany public release for utilities with
PFOA/PFOS concentrations above the Health Advisory
– Confirm testing results and assess sources
– Inform consumers
– Limit exposure (e.g., via use of alternative sources, blending, treatment)
PFOA & PFOS Occurrence in Orange County
• PFOA & PFOS testing required nationally by EPA via Unregulated
Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) 3 program
• OCWD laboratory developed required capability to fulfill testing requirements
for all Producers serving >10,000 people
– PFOA reporting limit : 20 ng/L (parts per trillion)
– PFOS reporting limit: 40 ng/L (parts per trillion
• UCMR3 testing completed between 2013-2015
– 135 samples collected (e.g., wells, reservoirs, blending points)
– 5 Producers had detections related to groundwater
– All results below 2009 Provisional Health Advisories (200 & 400 ng/L)
Current OCWD Actions
• Assess sources
– Reviewing potential local industrial sites
– Sampled Santa Ana River and MWD-OC 28 (results due next week)
– Review GWRS data
• 2012 research study: PFOA & PFOS not detected in GWRS Final Product Water
• 2014 OCWD testing: PFOA & PFOS not detected in GWRS Final Product Water
• Confirms studies showing reverse osmosis is effective treatment
• Assess extent via future testing at select OCWD monitoring wells
• Coordination with potentially affected Producers
Coordination with Potentially Affected Producers
• Meetings and calls between EPA, CA DDW, Producers, and OCWD
• Coordination on clear communications for likely inquires from public & media
• Producers have plans in place or have already begun blending and/or use of
alternative sources (e.g., shut off wells with detections)
• Specific future actions depend on lifetime Health Advisory concentration
Questions ?