New EPA Health Advisory for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS)

NHDES Welcomes New U.S. EPA Health Advisory for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS)

Concord, NH - The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) welcomes the release by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) of new lifetime drinking water health advisory levels (HAs) for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS). The USEPA has set the HAs for both PFOA and PFOS at 70 parts per trillion (ppt) and has recommended that when these two chemicals co-occur in the drinking water source, the sum of the concentrations of PFOA and PFOS be compared to the HA of 70 ppt.

NHDES is working closely with the N.H. Department of Health and Human Services to quickly review the scientific basis for these new HAs. Additionally, NHDES is already taking steps to provide bottled water to all known private drinking water well users whose wells show greater than 70 ppt of PFOA or PFOS individually or in combination.

NHDES will move quickly with emergency rule making to set a ground water cleanup and drinking water standard for contaminants. NHDES will then work to establish permanent rules, with full public comment and engagement processes.

For more information regarding NHDES’ investigation into perfluorochemicals in southern New Hampshire, please visit: http://des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/pfoa.htm