October 6, 2022
The National Center for Health Research appreciates the opportunity to provide comments on the designation of PFOA and PFOS as CERCLA hazardous substances. We are a public health think tank that conducts research, scrutinizes research conducted by others, and determines how research findings can be used to improve health policies and explains what is known and not known about the risks and benefits of specific products, programs, and policies.
For several years, we have been actively engaged in the study of the impact of PFOA, PFOS, and other PFAS chemicals on human health. There is clear evidence that these chemicals can disrupt the endocrine system in humans even at low levels. Exposure can exacerbate such common conditions as obesity, early puberty, attention disorders, and eventually cause cancer. We are therefore writing in strong support of the designation of PFOA and PFOS as CERCLA hazardous substances. This is an important first step because it holds companies accountable for these toxic substances, which in turn will improve public health.
Unfortunately, detailed information is lacking on most of the thousands of compounds that comprise PFAS. Since it is unlikely that EPA can compile comprehensive toxicity data on all members of this class of chemicals, EPA should make it an urgent priority to work with independent researchers and other federal agencies to develop a common definition of PFAS, and ensure that researchers and regulatory agencies assess and restrict these chemicals as a class. PFAS classes should be determined based on exposure data, chemicals that are located or utilized together, and other parameters such as structure. Known hazards in well-studied compounds should be assumed to extrapolate to similar compounds that lack good data, until research is conducted to fill those data gaps.
In conclusion, the National Center for Health Research agrees that the designation of PFOA and PFOS as CERCLA hazardous substances is consistent with the clear evidence that these chemicals disrupt the endocrine system, accumulate in the environment and in the human body, and can cause serious health problems for humans and other animals. Since there are thousands of other chemicals with similar structures that are not yet regulated, despite the assumption that they can cause similar harm, we strongly urge the EPA to regulate PFAS as a class of chemicals for the protection of public health and our environment.
For additional information about our work in this area, contact info@center4research.org.