California Proposes Public Health Goals for PFOS and PFOA

The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) released proposed Public Health Goals for PFOA and PFOS on July 22, 2021.  The full 632-page report is posted on the OEHHA website at: https://oehha.ca.gov/water/crnr/announcement-availability-draft-technical-support-document-and-public-workshop-proposed.

OEHHA set the Public Health Goal for PFOA at 0.007 parts per trillion (ppt) and for PFOS at 1 ppt.  There are serious questions regarding the scientific justification for these goals and whether these levels can be measured.

There will be a 60-day public comment period that will end on September 28, 2021. OEHHA will hold a public workshop on the proposed PHGs on September 28th and the drafts will also undergo external scientific peer review after the workshop.

NASF plans on working with its outside toxicologist to develop comments on this proposal (particularly as it impacts NASF members in California), and coordinate with the American Chemistry Council PFAS Stakeholders Group.

If you have any questions or would like additional information on this issue, please contact Jeff Hannapel with NASF at jhannapel@thepolicygroup.com. 

This update is courtesy of the National Association for Surface Finishing (NASF). For more information or to become a member, visit nasf.org.