Exposure assessment and risk characterization for perfluorooctanoate in selected consumer articles.
An exposure assessment and risk characterization was conducted to better understand the potential human health significance of trace levels of perfluorooctanoate (PFO) detected in certain consumer articles. PFO is the anion of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Concentrations of PFO in the consumer articles were determined from extraction tests and product formulation information. Potential exposures during consumer use of the articles were quantified based on an assessment of behavior patterns and regulatory guidance. Health benchmarks were developed and then compared to the exposure estimates to yield margins of exposure (MOEs). A simple one-compartment model was also developed to estimate contributions of potential consumer exposures to PFO concentrations in serum. While there are considerable uncertainties in this assessment, it indicates that exposures to PFO during consumer use of the articles evaluated in this study are not expected to cause adverse human health effects in infants, children, adolescents, adult residents, or professionals nor result in quantifiable levels of PFO in human serum.
ENVIRON International Corporation, 6001 Shellmound Street, Suite 700, Emeryville, California 94608, USA. swashburn@environcorp.com
Stephen T
ST
Washburn
Timothy S
TS
Bingman
Scott K
SK
Braithwaite
Robert C
RC
Buck
L William
LW
Buxton
Harvey J
HJ
Clewell
Lynne A
LA
Haroun
Janet E
JE
Kester
Robert W
RW
Rickard
Annette M
AM
Shipp
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019985:Benchmarking; D002210:Caprylates / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D002648:Child; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011634:Public Health; D018570:Risk Assessment
D002210:Caprylates; D005466:Fluorocarbons; C023036:perfluorooctanoic acid