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An Approach for Development of Provisional Protective Benchmarks for Ecological Effects of Data Poor PFAS
Citation:
Villeneuve, Dan, K. Flynn, AND A. Biales. An Approach for Development of Provisional Protective Benchmarks for Ecological Effects of Data Poor PFAS. EPA-ECOS-ASTHO PFAS Science Call, Duluth, MN, August 30, 2021. https://doi.org/10.23645/epacomptox.16623655
Impact/Purpose:
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are contaminants of high concern to EPA and the public. However, toxicity information required to conduct ecological risk assessments associated with PFAS are lacking for all but a small-handful of PFAS. The present work utilizes novel high throughput testing approaches to address two key questions critical to PFAS risk assessment. First, for about 20 chemicals identifying concentrations likely to be safe versus toxic. Second, evaluating whether aquatic organisms are more sensitive to PFAS than mammals to determine whether mammalian based methods are adequately protective of potential ecological effects or now. As such, these data are applicable to a wide range of EPA program offices, Regions, and stakeholders involved in ecological risk assessment of data poor PFAS.
Description:
Determination of the concentrations at which per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are toxic or safe for exposed organisms is an urgent need among EPA program offices and other state, tribal, and community stakeholders. Growing evidence suggests identification of concentrations at which global gene expression are or are not affected in short term exposures can serve as a reasonable predictor of concentrations likely to cause adverse effects in longer-term exposures. Based on this concept, we are using measurements of gene expression in 24-hour assays with aquatic organisms to derive provisional protective toxicity benchmarks for selected PFAS. This presentation provides an overview of the conceptual underpinnings and initial evaluation of this approach.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: An Approach for Development of Provisional Protective Benchmarks for Ecological Effects of Data Poor PFAS
PFAS-ECO-HTTR_PFAS SCIENCE CALL_ECOS_ASTHO 2021-08-30_V5.PDF (PDF, NA pp, 2294.271 KB, about PDF)