NC Department of Health and Human Services Health
- Slides: 8
NC Department of Health and Human Services Health Effects from PFAS Exposure Ricky Langley, MD Medical Consultant Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch December 4, 2018 NCDHHS, Division of Public Health | Health Effects from PFAS Exposure | December 4, 2018 1
What are PFAS? • PFAS = Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances • Man-made for variety of uses − − Fire fighting foam (AFFF) Polishes, waxes, and paint Stain repellants Non-stick coatings • PFAS generally occur as mixtures • Most well-studied PFAS are PFOA (C 8) and PFOS − Half-life in human body is several years − Not known to degrade in the environment PFOA (C 8) PFOS References: ATSDR 2018, EPA 2016 a, EPA 2016 b NCDHHS, Division of Public Health | Health Effects from PFAS Exposure | December 4, 2018 2
How are people exposed to PFAS? • Drinking contaminated water • Eating contaminated food − Produce − Fish • Note: no NC fish consumption advisories based on PFAS at this time − Food packaged in materials containing PFAS • Household dust • Consumer products • Occupational exposure References: ATSDR 2018, EPA 2016 a, EPA 2016 b NCDHHS, Division of Public Health | Health Effects from PFAS Exposure | December 4, 2018 3
What are potential health effects from PFAS exposure? • Developmental and Reproductive Effects: − Decreased fertility − Pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia − Decreased birth weight − Affect growth, learning, and behavior of infants and older children References: ATSDR 2018, EPA 2016 a, EPA 2016 b NCDHHS, Division of Public Health | Health Effects from PFAS Exposure | December 4, 2018 4
What are potential health effects from PFAS exposure? • Other Effects: − Thyroid disease − Liver damage - increases in serum enzymes and decreases in serum bilirubin − Increased cholesterol levels − Decreased vaccine response − Increased risk of certain types of cancers (PFOA - testicular and kidney cancer) References: ATSDR 2018, EPA 2016 a, EPA 2016 b NCDHHS, Division of Public Health | Health Effects from PFAS Exposure | December 4, 2018 5
What levels have been set to protect health? • EPA Lifetime Health Advisory – PFOA/PFOS − 70 ng/L or parts per trillion (ppt) in drinking water for PFOS and PFOA, either individually or combined − Not a regulatory level (not enforceable) − Not a bright line between “safe” and “unsafe” • The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and other states have established other health values for PFOA/PFOS and other PFAS Reference: EPA 2016 a, EPA 2016 b NCDHHS, Division of Public Health | Health Effects from PFAS Exposure | December 4, 2018 6
How can exposure be reduced? • If drinking water has PFAS above the health advisory, consider using alternative or treated water sources for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, and making formula − Okay to use water for bathing, laundry, washing dishes, etc. • Read consumer product labels and avoid those with PFAS NCDHHS, Division of Public Health | Health Effects from PFAS Exposure | December 4, 2018 7
Questions? NCDHHS, Division of Public Health | Health Effects from PFAS Exposure | December 4, 2018 8
- Iowa department of health and human services
- Milwaukee county health and human services
- Maine department of health and human services
- Seattle human services department
- Icg grant illinois
- Delaware county human services
- Washington state department of social and health services
- Department of health and senior services missouri
- Wake county human services community services center