US EPA

In April 2023, the draft Toxicological Review of Perfluorodecanoic Acid (PFDA) and Related Salts and the draft charge to external peer reviewers were released for a 60-day public review and comment period. The Toxicological Review and charge were reviewed internally by EPA and by other federal agencies and White House Offices before public release. Consistent with the May 2009 IRIS assessment development process, all written comments on IRIS assessments submitted by other federal agencies and White House Offices are made publicly available. Accordingly, interagency comments are posted on this site.

Perfluorodecanoic Acid (PFDA, CASRN 375-22 -4) is a member of the group per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Concerns about PFDA and other PFAS stem from the resistance of these compounds to hydrolysis, photolysis, and biodegradation, which leads to their persistence in the environment. PFASs are not naturally occurring in the environment; they are man-made compounds that have been used widely over the past several decades in consumer products and industrial applications because of their resistance to heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. PFDA is a breakdown product of other PFASs that are used in stain-resistant fabrics, paper food packaging, and carpets; it was also used for manufacturing photographic film, and it is used as a substitute for longer chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) in consumer products. PFDA has been found to accumulate in agricultural crops and it has been detected in household dust, soils, food products, and surface, ground, and drinking water. As such, exposure is possible via inhalation of indoor or outdoor air, ingestion of drinking water and food, and dermal contact with PFDA-containing products.

This document presents a draft assessment plan for the PFDA assessment that will be the subject of an SAB/Chemical Assessment Advisory Committee review which will define the scope and approach of the IRIS assessment for this chemical.

The Perfluorodecanoic Acid (PFDA) and Related Salts IRIS assessment was released for public comment in April 2023. Following the public comment period, there will be an external peer review. The assessment will then be revised taking into consideration public and peer review comments.

U.S. EPA. Toxicological Review of Perfluorodecanoic Acid (Pfda) (Interagency Science Consultation Draft, 2022). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/635/R-22/004a, 2022.