FY 2016 STATEMENT OF NEED

Environmental Restoration (ER) Program Area

The objective of this Statement of Need (SON) was to solicit proposals to develop an improved understanding of the ecotoxicity of compounds associated with the release of Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF). Of particular importance was an improved understanding of the ecotoxicity of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and defining their relative toxicity, as well as a suite of relevant per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in environmental media as a result of AFFF release. Proposers were asked to focuse on one or more of the following specific objectives in order to fill gaps in the knowledge base:

• Produce data to support development of toxicity reference values (TRVs) for birds, reptiles and amphibians for PFOS and PFOA using controlled data from laboratory investigations.
• Determine the relative toxicity of other PFAS compared to PFOA and PFOS in order to enhance risk management decisions and address risk communication concerns. Define relative potency factors using qualitative or quantitative methods using environmentally relevant concentrations, PFAS, species, and endpoints.

The projects listed below were selected to address the objectives of this SON. Additional information on individual projects can be found by clicking the project title.

• Development of Toxicity Reference Values (TRVs) for Birds Exposed to PFOS, PFOA and Associated Mixtures of Fluorinated Compounds
  • Lead Investigator: Matt Simcik, University of Minnesota
• Development of Amphibian Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Toxicity Reference Values for Use in Ecological Risk Assessment at Aqueous Film Forming Foam Sites
  • Lead Investigator: Maria Sepulveda, Purdue University
• Development of Toxicity Data to Support Toxicity Reference Values for Perfluorinated Compounds
  • Lead Investigator: Michael Quinn, U.S. Army Public Health Command
• Advancing the Understanding of the Ecological Risk of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
  • Lead Investigator: Christopher Salice, Towson University

The knowledge of the potential environmental risk of PFAS associated with AFFF will assist in the development of appropriate site-specific risk assessments and the decisions related to mitigation of exposures and/or future environmental cleanup.