The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released updated health advisories in June for PFAS compounds in drinking water. These new limits significantly reduce the guidelines previously established in 2016.
The new drinking water interim health advisories reduce the limit for both PFOA (perfluoro-octanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluoro-octane sulfonate). The new PFOA limit is 0.004 ppt and PFOS is 0.02 ppt, which are lower in comparison to the 2016 limits of 70 ppt. The announcement was made by the EPA on June 15, 2022.
At the same time, the EPA also issued final health advisories for PFBS (perfluorobutane sulfonic acid and its potassium salt) and GenX chemicals (hexafluoropropylene oxide (HFPO) dimer acid and its ammonium salt). The final health advisory limit for PFBS is 2,000 ppt and GenX chemicals is 10 ppt. The EPA notes that in chemical and product manufacturing, GenX chemicals are considered a replacement for PFOA, and PFBS is considered a replacement for PFOS. According to the EPA, the GenX chemicals and PFBS health advisory levels are well above the level of detection, based on risk analyses in recent scientific studies.
The EPA is targeting the release of a proposed PFAS National Drinking Water Regulation later this year. As part of its development of this proposed rule, the EPA is evaluating additional PFAS beyond PFOA and PFOS and considering actions to address groups of PFAS. The interim health advisories will provide guidance to states and municipal water systems for the period prior to the regulation going into effect.
Merit Laboratories is a leading national PFAS environmental laboratory, analyzing drinking water, soil, wastewater, groundwater, and other sample matrices, including biosolids and sludge. Analytical methods performed by Merit for PFAS include drinking water by EPA 533, EPA 537.1, and EPA 537 rev. 1.1, biosolids by ASTM D7968-17 with Isotopic Dilution, and soil, wastewater, groundwater, and surface water by ASTM D7979-19 with Isotopic Dilution and ASTM D7968-17.