EPA Releases Final Toxicity Assessment on PFAS Chemical

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a final human health toxicity assessment for GenX chemicals, Oct. 25, which are used in various manufacturing processes and are part of the per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) group, an increasingly widespread contaminant. The final toxicity assessment determined GenX to be harmful to human health at lower levels than initially proposed under a 2018 draft assessment.

The toxicity assessment also represents a step towards EPA developing a national drinking water health advisory for GenX chemicals. An advisory would be non-enforceable and non-regulatory technical information provided to state and local governments to assist in testing and treatment of GenX contamination. In their recently released PFAS Roadmap, EPA committed to releasing this advisory by spring 2022.

For more information, see the full toxicity assessment as well as EPA’s announcement. If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to APWA Government Affairs Manager Michael Altman at maltman@apwa.net or (202) 218-6727.