Transcript Slide 1

Consultation with Stakeholders on Perfluorooctanoic
Acid (PFOA) and
Long-Chain Perfluorocarboxylic Acids (PFCAs)
Presented by the New Brunswick Lung Association in
partnership with Health Canada
Brief Background and Process
NBLA contract to engage CSOs on the assessment and management of nine
chemical groupings
Goals are to increase awareness of the CMP, to engage Canadians, and to
provide input to the Government of Canada from CSOs
Today’s Webinar Agenda:
PFOAs and PFCAs – the process for these was begun before this engagement
contract. They are not part of the 9 chemical groupings.
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High level overview of chemicals, Screening Assessment including sources, risks, and
proposed Risk Management Plan
Input from participants and dialogue
Identification of recommendations to forward to Health Canada
Discussion of “process” for future consultations
Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)What is it?
• Is an industrial synthetic substance in a class of chemicals called
perfluorocarboxylic acids which are in turn within a group known as
perfluoroalkyl compounds (PFA) or perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs)
• May be found as a salt or formed from the breakdown of precursor
chemicals
• Used in the production of fluoropolymers in the manufacture of
non-stick coatings, stain-resistant textiles and clothing, and used in
gaskets, hoses and personal care products
• Used in the past in many industrial processes and consumer
products
• Not manufactured in Canada but the ammonium salt is imported
Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)- How is it
released and how are Canadians
exposed?
• Released during manufacturing of fluoropolymers, throughout
the service life of the articles, during disposal, in waste water
effluent or landfill leaching
•Exposure through air, water, food and the use of certain
consumer products (cookware,
. carpets, clothes)
•Possible in utero exposure and through breast feeding
Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) Potential Harm Assessment
PFOA exhibits moderate to low acute toxicities in pelagic organisms,
(including fish). PFOA exhibits low chronic toxicities in benthic
organisms . There is one study on the toxicity of PFOA in avian
wildlife. There is potential for PFOA to affect endocrine function,
hepatotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and chemosensitivity.
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• In humans, PFOA is well absorbed by all routes of exposure; it has
not been demonstrated to be metabolized and has a relatively long
half-life. Low concentrations of PFOA have been identified in blood
samples from non-occupationally exposed Canadians, including
newborns.
Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) Potential Harm Assessment
• Epidemiological studies have not identified a causal relationship between
PFOA exposure and adverse health effects in humans. Therefore, toxicity
studies in laboratory animals were used to determine the critical effects and
associated serum levels of PFOA. Following oral dosing, PFOA increased liver
weight in mice and altered lipid parameters in rats. Increased liver weight
was noted in a 26-week toxicity study in monkeys. In mice PFOAs increased
liver weight in females, altered fetal bone development and was related to
early puberty in male pups.
• In rats, high doses in the diet of males had significantly higher incidences of
adenomas of the liver hepatocytes, Leydig cells in the testes and pancreatic
acinar cells. No evidence of carcinogenic activity was seen in the female rats.
As primates do not have the same susceptibilities in toxicity pathways
present in rodents, the PFOA-induced tumours in male rats are considered
to have little or no relevance for humans. Although there is some evidence
to suggest that PFOA may be capable of causing indirect oxidative DNA
damage, the genotoxicity database indicates that PFOA is not mutagenic.
Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) Potential Harm Assessment
Summary:
This chemical has the potential to remain in the environment for a long
time, accumulate in some organisms and cause harm to some organisms
(note that “organism” in this context does not include humans).
• It has been concluded that PFOAs are entering the environment in a
quantity or under conditions that may present a danger to the
environment.
• It has been concluded that PFOAs are not harmful to the health of
Canadians at the current levels of exposure.
Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) Proposed Risk Management
For all of the chemicals screened under the Chemicals Management Plan,
if a substance is found to meet any of the risk criteria set out in section 64
of the Act, the Ministers can propose to:
• take no further action with respect to the substance,
• add the substance to the Priority Substances List (PSL) for further
assessment, or
• recommend the addition of the substance to the List of Toxic
Substances in Schedule 1 of the Act.
• Note: in certain circumstances, the Ministers must make a specific
proposal either to recommend addition to the List of Toxic Substances
and to recommend the implementation of virtual elimination.
Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) Proposed Risk Management
• Based on the conclusion of the final screening assessment, the Government of
Canada will consider options to reduce or eliminate releases to the environment of
PFOA, its salts and its precursors.
•On March 30, 2010, Environment Canada and Health Canada signed a Performance
Agreement with participating companies who sell perfluorochemical products that
contain perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), long chain (C9-C20) PFCAs and their precursors
in Canada. The purpose of the Agreement is to work towards elimination of residual
PFOA, long chain (C9-C20) PFCAs and their precursors in those products by December
31, 2015, as well as to collect and report information on the products sold in Canada.
•The final screening assessment report on PFOA, its Salts and its Precursors and the
proposed risk management approach document for PFOA, its Salts and its Precursors
were published on August 25, 2012. The risk management approach document will
be followed by a 60-day public comment period (from August 25, 2012 to October 24,
2012).
To see public comments go to: http://www.ec.gc.ca/ese-ees/default.asp?lang=En&n=FDAC1462-1
Long-Chain Perfluorocarboxylic Acids
(PFCAs) What are they?
• Fluorocarbon-based chemicals used in industrial processes that may also be
formed unintentionally from human activities
• Also formed from the degradation of PFCA precursors
• Used in production of large molecules such as polyvinylidene fluoride and
as a processing aid in the production of non-stick coating
• Used to provide oil, grease, water and stain repellants in paper, textiles,
carpets and leather
• These are not manufactured in, or imported into, Canada. However
precursors to these are imported into Canada.
Long-Chain Perfluorocarboxylic Acids
(PFCAs) - How are they released and how
are Canadians exposed?
Data is not available on the direct release of these but evidence
suggests that their precursors are released and may be
transported long distances and may degrade to PFCAs.
Degradation may occur during wastewater and sewage
treatment and the breakdown of products containing precursor
molecules.
Long-Chain Perfluorocarboxylic Acids
(PFCAs)- Potential Harm Assessment
Summary:
The ecological screening assessment indicated that PFCAs, their
salts and precursors have the potential to remain in the environment
for a long time and accumulate in and cause harm to organisms.
It has been concluded that PFOAs are entering the environment in a
quantity or under conditions that may present a danger to the
environment.
Long-Chain Perfluorocarboxylic Acids
(PFCAs) - Proposed Risk Management
• Based on the conclusion of the final screening assessment, the Government of Canada
will consider options to eliminate releases to the environment of these substances.
• On March 30, 2010, Environment Canada and Health Canada signed a Performance
Agreement with participating companies who sell perfluorochemical products. The
purpose of the Agreement is to work towards the elimination of residual PFOA, longchain (C9-C20) perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) and their precursors in those products
by December 31, 2015. The Agreement also allows for the collection and reporting of
information on these products that are sold in Canada.
• The final screening assessment report on long-chain (C9-C20) perfluorocarboxylic
acids (PFCAs), their salts, and their precursers and the proposed risk management
approach document for long-chain (C9-C20) perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs), their
salts, and their precursers were published on August 25, 2012. The risk management
approach document will be followed by a 60-day public comment period (from August
25, 2012 to October 24, 2012).
Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and
Long-Chain Perfluorocarboxylic Acids
(PFCAs)-- Proposed Risk Management
The Ministers proposed to recommend the addition of both PFOA
and long-chain PFCAs to the List of Toxic Substances in Schedule 1 of
CEPA 1999. As a result, the Ministers will develop a regulation or
instrument respecting preventive or control actions to protect the
environment from the potential effects of exposure to these
substances.
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• The final screening assessment reports did not conclude that either
PFOA or long-chain PFCAs meet the conditions set out in subsection
77(4) of CEPA 1999. As a result, PFOA, and long-chain PFCAs will not
be subject to the statutory implementation of virtual elimination.
Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and
Long-Chain Perfluorocarboxylic Acids
(PFCAs)
•As required by the Government of Canada’s Cabinet Directive on Streamlining
Regulation[2], and criteria set out in the Treasury Board document entitled Assessing,
Selecting, and Implementing Instruments for Government Action, the proposed risk
management instruments were selected using a consistent approach, and took into
consideration information available at the time.
•In order to achieve the risk management objective and to work towards achieving
the environmental objective, the risk management being considered for PFOA and
long-chain PFCAs is prohibition through regulation. A prohibition regulation would
prohibit the manufacture, use, sale, offer for sale, import and export of PFOA and
long-chain PFCAs and products containing PFOA and long-chain PFCAs. In accordance
with the Government of Canada’s Toxic Substances Management Policy, socioeconomic factors will be taken into account when determining interim targets,
appropriate management approaches and timelines for implementation.
To see public comments go to:
http://www.ec.gc.ca/ese-ees/default.asp?lang=En&n=D923AE46-1