This article is an overstatement of reality, so don't over react. The new EPA Health Advisory has at least a 300 margin of safety from the reference toxicology data. It was calculated to protect the most sensitive population segment,lactating women, as well as including a relative source contribution of 20% from drinking water which provides additional margin. The good news is that human body burdens as measured by blood concentrations have been declining for several years as a result of banns and use limitations. Except for some occupational exposures, and a small number of locations near manufacturing facilities, food and consumer products are much larger contributors to population exposure than drinking water. . The human health data are not robust. The US/Centers for Disease Control Agency for Toxic Substances Disease registry said in 2015 that interpretations are difficult because the results are not always consistent. The most consistent results indicated that there may be relationships between elevated blood cholesterol and high PFOA or PFOS serum levels. Increased uric acid associations may indicate increased risk of high blood pressure. Liver damage possibilities may be indicated by effects observed in animals. However, ATSDR goes on to say that humans and animals often react differently to those chemicals, and not all effects observed in dosed rats and mice may occur in humans. ATSDR states that there is no conclusive evidence that perfluoroalkyls cause cancer in humans. Although some studies indicated increased cancer risks at high exposure levels, they were inconsistent and most did not control for confounding factors such as smoking. A comprehensive review by Steenland et al in 2010, concluded that “Epidemiologic evidence remains limited, and to date data are insufficient to draw a firm conclusion regarding the role of PFOA for any of the diseases of concern.” A review of pregnancy outcomes by Savitz et al in 2009, concluded that “the data provide little support for PFOA or PFOS being related to pregnancy outcome, with some uncertainty regarding preeclampsia and aggregated birth defects."
Published by Joseph Cotruvo, President at Joseph Cotruvo & Associates, Water , Environment and Public Health
This article is an overstatement of reality, so don't over react. The new EPA Health Advisory has at least a 300 margin of safety from the reference toxicology data. It was calculated to protect the most sensitive population segment,lactating women, as well as including a relative source contribution of 20% from drinking water which provides additional margin. The good news is that human body burdens as measured by blood concentrations have been declining for several years as a result of banns and use limitations. Except for some occupational exposures, and a small number of locations near manufacturing facilities, food and consumer products are much larger contributors to population exposure than drinking water. .
The human health data are not robust. The US/Centers for Disease Control Agency for Toxic Substances Disease registry said in 2015 that interpretations are difficult because the results are not always consistent. The most consistent results indicated that there may be relationships between elevated blood cholesterol and high PFOA or PFOS serum levels. Increased uric acid associations may indicate increased risk of high blood pressure. Liver damage possibilities may be indicated by effects observed in animals. However, ATSDR goes on to say that humans and animals often react differently to those chemicals, and not all effects observed in dosed rats and mice may occur in humans. ATSDR states that there is no conclusive evidence that perfluoroalkyls cause cancer in humans. Although some studies indicated increased cancer risks at high exposure levels, they were inconsistent and most did not control for confounding factors such as smoking.
The human health data are not robust. The US/Centers for Disease Control Agency for Toxic Substances Disease registry said in 2015 that interpretations are difficult because the results are not always consistent. The most consistent results indicated that there may be relationships between elevated blood cholesterol and high PFOA or PFOS serum levels. Increased uric acid associations may indicate increased risk of high blood pressure. Liver damage possibilities may be indicated by effects observed in animals. However, ATSDR goes on to say that humans and animals often react differently to those chemicals, and not all effects observed in dosed rats and mice may occur in humans. ATSDR states that there is no conclusive evidence that perfluoroalkyls cause cancer in humans. Although some studies indicated increased cancer risks at high exposure levels, they were inconsistent and most did not control for confounding factors such as smoking.
A comprehensive review by Steenland et al in 2010, concluded that “Epidemiologic evidence remains limited, and to date data are insufficient to draw a firm conclusion regarding the role of PFOA for any of the diseases of concern.” A review of pregnancy outcomes by Savitz et al in 2009, concluded that “the data provide little support for PFOA or PFOS being related to pregnancy outcome, with some uncertainty regarding preeclampsia and aggregated birth defects."