Occurrence and Potential Significance of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) Detected in New Jersey Public Drinking Water Systems

Abstract

After detection of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in two New Jersey (NJ) public water systems (PWS) at concentrations up to 0.19 microg/L, a study of PFOA in 23 other NJ PWS was conducted in 2006. PFOA was detected in 15 (65%) of the systems at concentrations ranging from 0.005 to 0.039 microg/L. To assess the significance of these data, the contribution of drinking water to human exposure to PFOA was evaluated, and a health-based drinking water concentration protective for lifetime exposure of 0.04 microg/L was developed through a risk assessment approach. Both the exposure assessment and the health-based drinking water concentrations are based on the previously reported 100:1 ratio between the concentration of PFOA in serum and drinking water in a community with highly contaminated drinking water. The applicability of this ratio to lower drinking water concentrations was confirmed using data on serum levels and water concentrations from other communities. The health-based concentration is based on toxicological end points identified by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) in its 2005 draft risk assessment Recent information on PFOA's toxicity not considered in the USEPA risk assessment urther supports the health-based concentration of 0.04 microg/L. In additional sampling of 18 PWS in 2007-2008, PFOA in most systems was below the health-based concentration. However, PFOA was detected above the health-based concentration in five systems, including one not previously sampled.

The impact of two fluoropolymer manufacturing facilities on downstream contamination of a river and drinking water resources with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances

“…Since there is currently no guideline value for PFASs in drinking water in France, these findings are difficult to interpret with regard to the continued use of these water resources and the risk for h u m a n h e a l t h . T h e N e w J e r s e y D e p a r t m e n t o f Environmental Protection (Post et al 2009), the US Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA 2016), and the German Drinking Water Commission (FEA 2011), to name but a few, have issued guideline values, mainly for PFOA and PFOS. It is likely that the PFOA concentrations in the wells were even higher when this PFAS was heavily used and discharged by the industrial site.…”

Perfluoroalkyl substances in the Daling River with concentrated fluorine industries in China: seasonal variation, mass flow, and risk assessment

“…Nowadays, drinking water criteria of PFASs have been established in many countries, including America (EPA Provisional Health Advisory, PFOS 200 ng L −1 , PFOA 400 ng L −1 ; Minnesota Health Risk Limits, PFOS 300 ng L −1 , PFOA 300 ng L −1 , PFBS 7000 ng L −1 , PFBA 7000 ng L −1 ; New Jersey, PFOA 40 ng L −1 ), Germany (PFOS 100 ng L −1 , PFOA 100 ng L −1 , PFBS 3000 ng L −1 , PFBA 7000 ng L −1 ), and Canada (PFOS 300 ng L −1 , PFOA 700 ng L −1 ) (USEPA 2009;MDH 2008;Post et al 2009). All the concentrations detected in the Baishi Reservoir area were below those drinking water criteria, suggesting that the PFASs in water from the Baishi Reservoir had little risk to citizens.…”

Exploratory Assessment of Risks from Drinking and Recreational Water Exposure to Children in the State of New Jersey

“…In today's environment, with ever increasing human activities, meeting water quality challenges is becoming increasingly difficult. Residents living in the state of New Jersey face a number of environmental hazards that threaten water quality [1]. This includes exposure to many chemicals and compounds that are hazardous to human health.…”