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Region 3 PEHSU | Factsheet on Perfluorinated Chemicals (PFCs) for Health Professionals (2015) > What are the current regulatory levels for PFCs?

What are the current regulatory levels for PFCs?

posted on Mar 2, 2019

PFC concentrations are not currently regulated in food, water or air, though the EPA is evaluating some PFCs for potential regulatory action.

In 2009, the US EPA issued Provisional Health Advisory Levels for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water. These values were calculated assuming an exposure scenario in which a 10 kg child consumes 1 L/day of drinking water. The EPA selected an exposure scenario involving children because children consume more water than adults on a body weight basis, and thus will have a higher exposure to contaminants in drinking water on a body weight basis than adults (http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/existingchemicals/pubs/pfcs_action_plan1230_09.pdf

These EPA advisory levels for drinking water are guidance values only. The EPA provisional drinking water guidelines are as follows: PFOA: 0.4 mcg/L and PFOS: 0.2 mcg/L.

In 2012, EPA signed a Significant New Use Rule for PFCs to limit their use and continues to evaluate the exposure to PFCs on children and other populations, which are more likely to be more sensitive to PFC exposures.