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Aquatic Life Criteria - Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)

On this page:
  • What is Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)?
  • How does PFOA affect Aquatic Life?
  • 2022 Draft Aquatic Life Criteria for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)

What is Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)?

PFOA belongs to the per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) group of chemicals. PFOA is an organic, human-made perfluorinated compound, consisting of a seven-carbon backbone and a carboxylate functional group. Commercial production and use of PFOA as a protective coating on industrial and consumer products started in the mid-1950s.

How does PFOA affect Aquatic Life?

PFOA is human-made molecule and has no biologically important functions or beneficial properties to aquatic life. The mechanisms underpinning the toxicity of PFOA to aquatic organisms, like other PFAS, is an active and on-going area of research. Much work is still needed from a mechanistic perspective to better understand how the different modes of action elicit specific biological responses. The draft aquatic life ambient water quality criteria are based on observed effects of PFOA to the survival, growth, and reproduction of aquatic organisms.

2022 Draft Aquatic Life Criteria for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)

The extended public comment period for the published draft national recommended aquatic life criteria for PFOA closed on July 5, 2022.

These draft criteria reflect the latest scientific knowledge regarding the effects of PFOA on freshwater organisms. The draft PFOA criteria document contains acute and chronic criteria for freshwaters. The draft criteria document also contains chronic criteria expressed as tissue-based concentrations to protect aquatic life from PFOA bioaccumulation. The chronic freshwater and chronic tissue criteria are intended to be independently applicable and no one criterion takes primacy.

Once finalized, states and authorized tribes can adopt these recommended criteria into water quality standards to protect against harmful effects of PFOA on aquatic life.

Available PFOA toxicity data for estuarine/marine species allowed for the derivation acute estuarine/marine benchmarks through application of a New Approach Method (NAM). The acute estuarine/marine benchmark is also intended to be protective of aquatic life designated uses.

  • Memorandum: Draft Aquatic Life Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA); Extension of Comment Period (June 28, 2022)
  • Federal Register Notice: Draft Aquatic Life Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA); Extension of Comment Period (May 31, 2022)
  • Federal Register Notice: Draft Aquatic Life Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) for public comment (May 3, 2022)
  • Fact Sheet: Draft Aquatic Life Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)
  • Document: 2022 Draft Aquatic Life Ambient Water Quality Criteria Recommendations for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)
  • External Peer Review Comments on the Draft Aquatic Life Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) (pdf) (923.51 KB, August 26, 2021)
  • EPA 2022 Response to External Peer Review Comments on the Draft Aquatic Life Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) (pdf) (970.62 KB, April 2022, EPA 842-D-22-004)
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on July 12, 2022
United States Environmental Protection Agency

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