PFCs Regulations in New Hampshire Estephanie Aquino Ruben Gallardo Josie Yalovitser This report was written by undergraduate students at Dartmouth College under the direction of professors in the Rockefeller Center. Policy Research Shop (PRS) students produce non-partisan policy analyses and present their findings in a non-advocacy manner. The PRS is fully endowed by the Dartmouth Class of 1964 through a class gift in celebration of its 50th Anniversary given to the Center. This endowment ensures that the Policy Research Shop will continue to produce high-quality, non-partisan policy research for policymakers in New Hampshire and Vermont. 1

Methodology 1. Peer Reviewed Literature Potential Adverse Health Effects Environmental Impact 2. Federal EPA Recommendations/Programs 3. Case Study Analysis of State Regulations 4. Overview of New Hampshire PFCs Regulations 5. Policy Options Ruben

What are Perfluorinated Compounds? PFCs are an additive that have been widely used in the manufacturing process. Made of carbon-fluorine bonds that increase resistance to degradation of natural processes. Estimated elimination half-life of 3.5 years in human body. PFOAs and PFOSs are PFCs Jos

Potential Health Effects of PFCs Low birth weights, accelerated puberty, reduced immunity. Possible correlation between PFOA exposure and testicular cancer, kidney cancer, increased cholesterol, changes in thyroid hormones. Findings are still limited due to extrapolation and epidemiological data Jos PFCs are manufactured chemicals that can be found in common household items excessive exposure=harmful to human health. EPA guidelines= 70ppt graph shows that in southern NH the rates of PFOAs exposure are higher than in other areas of the U.S--thought to be due ot the Saint Gobain performance plastics plant (http://nhpr.org/post/pfc-blood-tests-merrimack-find-levels-higher-general-population)

Tables from: https://oecotextiles.wordpress.com/tag/pfos/ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released from data collected by 3M and DuPont; some humans have more PFOA in their blood than the estimated levels in animals in this study. For a complete review of this study, see the Environmental Working Group’s website, http://www.ewg.org/node/21726.

Environmental Impact of PFCs Long-range transport Wastewater Air emissions Solid wastes in soil Resistant to degradation through natural processes Jos

http://worldoceanreview.com/en/files/2010/10/k4_pfc_pfos_ferntransport-arktis_e_en.jpg

Treatment Methods Closing contaminated wells and blending water sources Dilution of PFCs Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) 90% rate removal of PFCs High-Pressure Membrane Filtration Reverse Osmosis Residential and Industrial Use

Existing Federal Legislation EPA established guidelines 70 parts per trillion 2010/2015 PFOA Stewardship Program Eight major leading companies commit to reduce emissions of PFOA and PFOS by 95% by 2015

New York Feb. 2016 Water Quality Rapid Response Team Analyze water contamination reports and well sampling $2 Billion Clean Water Act Fund improvement of water standards, wastewater infrastructure, addressing contaminants, creating jobs Hoosick Falls Free bottled water Carbon Filtration and GAC system installation Private well water testing and point-of-entry filtration systems Josie

Vermont Sampling of North Bennington near former Chemfab Facility Samples PFOA concentration ranged from 40-2,880 parts per trillion Blood Test Sampling 477 adults and children 2.1 ug/L higher PFOA concentration than average. US population Emergency concentration level of 20 ppt for PFOA and PFOS implemented and later permanently included to existing legislation

Texas The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality established protective concentration levels for 16 PFCs Includes groundwater, surface water, and soil Protective concentration levels higher than federal recommendations Texas Risk Reduction Program Three-tiered program Determine if contaminated sites qualifies for exclusion Identify pollution source Choose response: remove source of pollution or implement different approach other than removal of contaminant

Texas Chemical of Concern Abbreviation Health Value (ppb) Health Value (ppt) Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid PFHxS 0.093 93 Perfluorononanoic acid PFNA 0.29 290 Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid PFOS 0.56 560 Perfluorooctanoic acid PFOA

Michigan 23 sites across 14 different communities in michigan with contamination of PFCs

Michigan Wolverine and 3M Lawsuits Enforceable standard of 70 ppt established in 2018 for PFOA and PFOS Action Response Team Mitigation Empowerment Communication costs of this-voluntary action by wolverine and 3M enforceable standard will guarantee legal liability the pfoas response team cost an initial 23 million from the governor approved state budget now running under government administrators--sorta like a new committee accept donations. public outreach (active role in informing possible exposed citizens)

NH Relevant PFC Investigation Sites NHDES Statewide Investigation 2017 222/1619 >70 ppt of PFOA and PFOS combined Pease Tradeport Granular activated carbon vessels installed after levels exceeded provisional health advisory set by EPA. Blood-Testing Saint-Gobain Combined levels of PFOA and PFOS above 70 ppt in surrounding towns of Bedford, Litchfield, Londonderry, Manchester and Merrimack Textile Coated International 21/235 samples nearby in Amherst had combined levels of PFOA and PFOS above 70 ppt

Responses to Contamination 70 ppt health advisory level for PFOA and PFOS in groundwater Consent Agreement Reached with Saint-Gobain in March 2018 TCI Municipal Water Line Extension Project Response Team Investigation Testing NH-DES and NH-DHHS Collaboration Community Exposure Assessment (MVD)

graph shows that in southern NH the rates of PFOAs exposure are higher than in other areas of the U.S-(http://nhpr.org/post/pfc-blood-tests-merrimack-find-levels-higher-general-population)

Policy Options Expand the scope of PFCs investigation team Multidisciplinary approach Communicate findings to inform legislation Monitor scientific findings to inform regulatory standards for PFCs in surface water, soil, and ambient air Regularly update groundwater standard levels for PFCs as more scientific findings on potential adverse health effects of PFCs becomes available Ruben