Correction to: Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology
In the original version of this article, we misinterpreted the timeline for Vermont’s PFOA and PFOS Health Advisories (HAs). We regret the error. We provide the corrected text here for reference.
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In February 2016, in response to concerns about water contamination near an industrial facility, Vermont drafted a drinking water HA for PFOA of 20 ng/L that was finalized in March 2016 [1]. In May 2016, EPA finalized its lifetime HA of 70 ng/L for PFOA and PFOS individually or combined [2, 3]. Shortly after, Minnesota, building off the EPA’s 2016 risk assessments, developed state guideline levels of 35 ng/L PFOA and 27 ng/L PFOS that were lower than the EPA HAs [4, 5], and Vermont referenced the EPA’s risk assessment in revising its HA to 20 ng/L for PFOA and PFOS individually or combined [6].
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Unlike some states where limited regulatory appetite and strong industry and political influence may slow progress on protecting public health by establishing PFAS water exposure limits, other states have developed scientifically sound PFAS guideline levels in response to discoveries of local contamination. For example, after the discovery of PFOA contamination in Hoosick Falls, New York, a resident in nearby North Bennington, Vermont raised concerns to local legislators. The state of Vermont reacted quickly, first creating a PFOA HA of 20 ng/L and then using that HA to develop a groundwater enforcement standard. Testing of private wells by Vermont’s Department of Environmental Conservation found PFOA concentrations well above the state’s HA, prompting the state to quickly provide bottled water and conduct additional water testing, soil sampling, and blood testing of local residents [7,8,9].
References
Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation. 2016. “Memorandum.” https://dec.vermont.gov/sites/dec/files/documents/2016.03.16.PFOA-interim-groundwater-enforcement-standard-1.pdf.
U.S. EPA. Drinking Water Health Advisory for Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS). Office of Water document 822-R-16-004; U.S. EPA: Washington, DC. 2016. [Citation 34 in original publication].
U.S. EPA. Drinking Water Health Advisory for PerfluorooctanoicAcid (PFOA). Office of Water document 822-R-16-005; U.S. EPA: Washington, DC. 2016.
MDH (Minnesota Department of Health). Health Based Guidance for Water Health Risk Assessment Unit - Toxicological Summary for: Perfluorooctanoate; 2017/ http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/risk/guidance/gw/pfoa.pdf. [Citation 95 in original publication].
MDH (Minnesota Department of Health). Health Based Guidance for Water Health Risk Assessment Unit -Toxicological Summary for: Perfluorooctane Sulfonate; 2017; Available at http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/risk/guidance/gw/pfos.pdf. [Citation 102 in original publication].
Vose S. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) Vermont Drinking Water Health Advisory [letter]. Available at: https://anrweb.vt.gov/PubDocs/DEC/PFOA/PFOA%20-%20PFOS%20Health%20Advisories/Vermont/PFOA_PFOS_HealthAdvisory_June_22_2016.pdf (Accessed 6 June 2018). [Citation 98 in original publication].
Schuren A. Role of state and federal agencies. Presentation at Highly Fluorinated Compounds: Social and Scientific Discovery: Boston, MA. 15 June 2017. [Citation 72 in original publication]
Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation. 2016. “Memorandum.” https://dec.vermont.gov/sites/dec/files/documents/2016.03.16.PFOA-interim-groundwater-enforcement-standard-1.pdf.
Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation. 2016. “Summary for Legislators: PFOA Contamination in North Bennington.” https://dec.vermont.gov/sites/dec/files/documents/PFOASummaryForLegislatorsvFINAL3.25.16.pdf.
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The original article can be found online at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-018-0099-9.
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Cordner, A., De La Rosa, V.Y., Schaider, L.A. et al. Correction: Guideline levels for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water: the role of scientific uncertainty, risk assessment decisions, and social factors. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 30, 585–586 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-020-0207-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-020-0207-5
