Assessing the Ecological Risks of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances: Current State-of-the Science and a Proposed...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Toxicology
• Ecotoxicology
• Risk Assessment

Background:

• Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse group of chemicals with potential environmental and human health concerns.
• While some PFAS are known to be persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic, data for most are insufficient for comprehensive risk assessment.
• A 2019 workshop convened experts to discuss the state-of-the-science for PFAS risk assessment, focusing on ecotoxicology and ecological risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current scientific understanding of PFAS ecotoxicology and ecological risks.
• To identify critical data gaps and uncertainties in PFAS ecological risk assessment.
• To propose strategies and methodologies for addressing these knowledge gaps.

Main Methods:

• Summarized existing information on PFAS problem formulation, prioritization, exposure, and hazard/effects in global regulatory and ecological risk assessments.
• Identified and discussed key uncertainties and data gaps in PFAS ecological risk assessment.
• Proposed approaches to address identified needs, including enhanced monitoring and predictive modeling.

Main Results:

• Significant data limitations exist for the majority of PFAS, hindering robust risk assessment.
• Current knowledge is insufficient to fully characterize the ecological risks posed by many PFAS.
• There is a need for improved exposure assessment, bioaccumulation modeling, and efficient biological effects testing.

Conclusions:

• Assessing the ecological risk of PFAS requires a multidisciplinary approach integrating conventional and novel methods.
• Development of comprehensive monitoring programs and predictive models for bioaccumulation is crucial.
• Efficient in silico, in vitro, and in vivo methods are needed to assess biological effects on sensitive species and endpoints.