US: agency opens consultations on its toxicological review of PFHxS and related salts

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has opened a 60-day public comment period and external peer review for its IRIS Toxicological Review of Perfluorohexanesulfonic Acid (PFHxS) and Related Salts.    

EPA's Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Program aims to identify and characterize the health hazards of chemicals found in the environment to protect human health and the environment.    

Concerns regarding PFHxS and other PFAS is related to their persistence in the environment, which is due to their ability to resist hydrolysis, photolysis, and biodegradation.    

EPA started its assessment of PFHxS in November 2019, when it released the Systematic Review Protocol for the PFHxS IRIS Assessment (Preliminary Assessment Materials). In July 2020, EPA updated the Systematic Review Protocol for the PFBA, PFHxA, PFHxS, PFNA, and PFDA IRIS Assessments in response to public comments. Lastly, in January 2023, EPA sent an interagency science consultation PFHxS draft for review and comment.    

PFHxS and its related salts are man-made compounds that belong to the group of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These compounds have been widely used in consumer products and industrial applications due to their resistance to heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. PFHxS is used in water- and stain-protective coatings for consumer products such as carpets, textiles, paper, packaging, electronics, and industrial fluids or waterproofing agents.    

The new IRIS Toxicological Review will undergo an independent external scientific peer review managed by ERG, a contractor to EPA. Afte that, the assessment will be revised based on all public and external peer review comments received.    

The deadline for comments is September 22, 2023.    

 

Source:  

EPA