The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on January 24 the automatic addition of four per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) list.
TRI data are reported to EPA annually by facilities in certain industry sectors that manufacture, process, or otherwise use TRI-listed chemicals above certain quantities.
The data include quantities of such chemicals that were released into the environment or otherwise managed as waste. Information collected through the TRI allows communities to learn how facilities in their area are managing listed chemicals.
The EPA finalized in April 2021 a toxicity value for perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) (Chemical Abstracts Service registry number [CASRN] 375-73-5) and potassium perfluorobutane sulfonate (CASRN 29420-49-3), therefore, adding these substances to the TRI.
PFBS-based compounds are replacement chemicals for PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid), a chemical that was voluntarily phased out by the primary U.S. manufacturer by 2002. PFBS has been identified in the environment and consumer products, including surface water, wastewater, drinking water, dust, carpeting and carpet cleaners, and floor wax.
The two other PFAS added were CASRN 65104-45-2, which is designated as “active” on the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Inventory, and CASRN 203743-03-7.
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NGWA has long been an industry leader in providing PFAS research, education, and resources to the public and scientific communities. In 2017, NGWA published Groundwater and PFAS: State of Knowledge and Practice, which was one of the first PFAS guidance documents to be released. It can be found at NGWA.org/PFAS, which is a complete resource center about the groundwater contaminants featuring a FAQs document, a top-10 facts sheet, a homeowner checklist, and more.
NGWA is also once again hosting a conference on this topic, Fate of PFAS: From Groundwater to Tap Water, June 21-22, 2022 in Westerville, Ohio.