Drinking Water Health Advisories for PFOA and PFOS

2022 Interim Updated PFOA and PFOS Health Advisories

On June 15, 2022, EPA issued interim updated drinking water health advisories for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) that replace those EPA issued in 2016. PFOA and PFOS are members of a chemical group called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The updated advisory levels, which are based on new science and consider lifetime exposure, indicate that some negative health effects may occur with concentrations of PFOA or PFOS in water that are near zero. These interim health advisories will remain in place until EPA establishes a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation.

At the same time, EPA also issued final health advisories for two other PFAS, perfluorobutane sulfonic acid and its potassium salt (PFBS) and for hexafluoropropylene oxide (HFPO) dimer acid and its ammonium salt (“GenX chemicals"). In chemical and product manufacturing, GenX chemicals are considered a replacement for PFOA, and PFBS is considered a replacement for PFOS.

Basic Information

• Press Release (June 15, 2022)
• Federal Register Notice on Lifetime Drinking Water Health Advisories for Four Perfluoroalkyl Substances (June 21, 2022)
• June 23, 2022 Public Webinar

  • Webinar Recording

  • Drinking Water Health Advisories for Four Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) PFOA, PFOS, GenX chemicals, and PFBS (English) (pdf)
  • Drinking Water Health Advisories for Four Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) PFOA, PFOS, GenX chemicals, and PFBS (Spanish) (pdf)
• Drinking Water Health Advisories for PFAS Fact Sheet for Communities (PFOA, PFOS, GenX Chemicals and PFBS) (pdf)
  • Hoja informativa: Avisos de salud sobre el agua potable para las PFAS
  • إرشادات صحية لمياه الشرب بشأن مواد السلفونات المشبعة بالفلور ألكيل (PFAS)
  • 饮用水 PFAS 健康公告 社区情况说明书
  • 社區飲用水中 PFAS 的健康公告說明資料
  • PFAS에 대한 식수 건강주의보
  • Рекомендации по охране здоровья при использовании питьевой воды для PFAS
  • Mga Abisong Pangkalusugan sa Iniinom na Tubig para sa PFAS
  • Tư Vấn Sức Khỏe Nước Uống cho PFAS
• Questions and Answers: HAs for PFOA, PFOS, GenX Chemicals and PFBS
  • Avisos de salud sobre las PFAS para el PFOA, el PFOS, las sustancias químicas GenX, el PFBS
• Drinking Water Health Advisories for PFAS Fact Sheet for Public Water Systems (PFOA, PFOS, GenX Chemicals and PFBS) (pdf)

Technical Information

• Technical Fact Sheet: Drinking Water Health Advisories for Four PFAS (PFOA, PFOS, GenX Chemicals, and PFBS) (pdf) (June 2022, EPA 822-F-22-002)
• Interim Drinking Water Health Advisory: Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) CASRN 335-67-1 (pdf) (June 2022, EPA 822-R-22-003)
  • External Peer Review Draft: Proposed Approaches to the Derivation of a Draft Maximum Contaminant Level Goal for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) (CASRN 335-67-1) in Drinking Water) (December 2021, EPA 822-D-21-001)
• Interim Drinking Water Health Advisory: Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) CASRN 1763-23-1 (pdf) (June 2022, EPA 822-R-22-004)
  • External Peer Review Draft: Proposed Approaches to the Derivation of a Draft Maximum Contaminant Level Goal for Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) (CASRN 1763-23-1) in Drinking Water (December 2021, EPA 822-D-21-002)

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2016 PFOA and PFOS Health Advisories

Basic Information

• Fact Sheet on PFOA and PFOS Drinking Water Health Advisories (pdf) (November 2016)
  • HOJA INFORMATIVA Presencia de PFOA y PFOS en el agua potable Avisos de salud
• EPA Memorandum "Clarification about the Appropriate Application of the PFOA and PFOS Drinking Water Health Advisories" (pdf)  (November 2016)

Technical Information

• FR Notice on the Health Advisories for PFOA and PFOS (May 25, 2016)
• 2016 PFOA Health Advisory (pdf)
• 2016 PFOA Health Effects Support Document (pdf)
• 2016 PFOS Health Advisory (pdf)
• 2016 PFOS Health Effects Support Document (pdf)
• 2016 EPA Response to Peer Review Comments (pdf)

2009 Provisional Health Advisories and 2014 Draft Health Effects Documents

Technical Documents

• 2009 Provisional Health Advisory (pdf)
• 2014 Draft Health Effects Document for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)
• 2014 Draft Health Effects Document for Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS)
• Peer Reviewer Summary Report: External Peer Review of EPA’s Draft Health Effects Documents for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS)