EPA Requests Public Comment on Draft IRIS Toxicological Review for PFNA

On March 7, EPA announced the availability of the Agency’s Draft IRIS Toxicological Review of Perfluorononanoic Acid (PFNA) and Related Salts for review and public comment. The Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) program within EPA’s Office of Research and Development develops “impartial toxicity information independent of its use by EPA’s program and regional offices to set national standards and clean up hazardous sites.” The draft states that there was insufficient evidence to judge whether exposure to PFNA might affect the development of specific cancers.

Regarding noncancer effects, the assessment concludes that:

• The evidence demonstrates that oral exposure to PFNA causes developmental effects in humans,
• The evidence indicates that oral exposure to PFNA is likely to cause male reproductive effects and hepatic (liver) effects in humans,
• PFNA exposure is associated with deficits in birth weight and
• Animal studies have shown moderate evidence of developmental toxicity.

The Agency is releasing this draft IRIS assessment for public comment ahead of an independent external scientific peer review. After this comment period, EPA’s contractor ERG will convene a public meeting of the peer reviewers to discuss the draft report. The external peer reviewers will consider public comments submitted in response to this notice and any public comments provided during the public meeting during the group’s assessment. The deadline for public comments on the draft IRIS review is May 6.