Aquatic Life Criteria - Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)
- What is PFOA?
- How does PFOA affect Aquatic Life?
- 2024 Final Aquatic Life Criteria for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)
What is 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 began 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 ongoing 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 final aquatic life ambient water quality criteria are based on observed effects of PFOA to the survival, growth, and reproduction of aquatic organisms.
2024 Final Aquatic Life Criteria for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has published final national recommended aquatic life criteria for PFOA in freshwater. These final criteria reflect the latest scientific knowledge regarding the effects of PFOA on freshwater organisms. The final PFOA criteria document contains acute and chronic criteria for freshwaters. The final 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; no single criterion takes primacy. States and authorized Tribes can adopt these recommended criteria into water quality standards to protect against the 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.
- Federal Register Notice: Final Recommended Aquatic Life Criteria and Benchmarks for Select PFAS
- Factsheet: Final Recommended Aquatic Life Criteria and Benchmarks for Select PFAS (pdf)
- Document: Final Aquatic Life Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) (pdf)
- Response to Public Comments for PFOA and PFOS (pdf)