October 25, 2018

Toxics Use Reduction Institute Science Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
October 25, 2018
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection – 2nd Floor, 1 Winter Street, Boston
12:30 PM

Members present: David Williams (Chair), Robin Dodson (Vice-chair), Christy Foran, Hilary Hackbart, Wendy Heiger-Bernays, Amy Cannon, Denise Kmetzo, Margo Newman, Heather Lynch

Members not present: Ken Weinberg, Chris Rioux

Program staff present: Liz Harriman (TURI), Heather Tenney (TURI), John Raschko (OTA), Rachel Massey (TURI)

Others present: Katherine Robertson (MCTA), Trisha McCarthy (Coyne Legislative Services for ACC), Jessica Bowman (FluoroCouncil), Erin DeSantis(ACC), Bill Coyne (Coyne Legislative Services for ACC), Frank Adamsky (Daikin America/ACC)

Welcome and Introductions

Program Updates

Mary Butow has left TURI for a position as a Health Risk Assessor at New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.

TURI’s Continuing Education Conference will be held in Westborough on November 13th.

C1-C4 Halogenated Compounds regulatory package is out for public comment. The public hearing is today. Comments are due by 10/26.

Today is the last day of the TUR Planner Course. There were 19 participants.

TURI has begun drafting a PFAS summary document. The draft was handed out at the Advisory Committee and Administrative Council meetings. A copy was distributed to the SAB.

There is a recent press release on UMass Lowell’s licensing for a safer alternative to methylene chloride for paint removal.

PFNA

The EHS summary for PFNA was handed out and the Board began with what was documented on the white board at the last meeting. Items bolded and starred are key endpoints:
*Persistence – substantial evidence regarding extreme persistence (Lambert 2011, NJ)
*Bioaccumulation – more in air breathing mammals than gill breathing species (Surma 2015, ECHA 2015, Houde 2006) human ½ life 2x PFOA (NJ DWQI 2015)
Toxicity- Acute: unpublished study; Chronic: NJ MCL
Mobility/long range transport –Tomy 2009 Biomagnification study in Beluga whales
Metabolic effects - Preston 2018 Thyroid
Neurotoxicity – 4 studies. Oulhote 2016, Lien 2016 (inverse relationship)
*Developmental/Repro – Das 2015 ↑maternal weight ↓pup weight; Slower development on certain endpoints; Wang 2016a supports; Jantzen 2016
Corrosivity – corrosive
Mutagenicity – Yahia 2016
*Immunotoxicity – Fang 2008, Rockwell 2013, 2017 (mice); Chen 2018 (epi)  animal studies consistent with the epi; Grandjean 2012 effects at high blood serum concentrations
*Liver - Das 2017 ↑Gene trans activity steatosis; Das 2015 ↑Liver weight offspring persists, hepatomegaly in dams
Toxicokinetics- human ½ life 2x PFOA

Das 2015 was a key study used by New Jersey. It showed heavier maternal weight, decreased pup weight, and slower development for certain endpoints. Supported by a human epi study (Wang 2016a) which also shows growth endpoints. Long term and multigenerational studies in zebrafish (Jantzen 2016) and medaka fish (Lee 2017).

For the Thyroid endpoint, Preston 2018 was cited. In addition, a member found a new study (Byrne 2018, not on LibGuide) which showed elevated TSH levels w/ PFNA. It was noted that this study was relevant because it looked at TSH as well as just looking at T3 and T4, even though it is not the best study.

For Reproductive Toxicity a newer study (Singh et al 2018, not on LibGuide) showed impaired spermatogenesis in male mice; Steves et al 2018 also showed potential for impact on male fertility.

For Immunotoxicity, Grandjean 2012 was added to the studies that were showing effects. It showed effects at high blood serum concentrations. The serum vaccine study included PFNA.

For the Liver endpoint, Das 2015 showed increased liver weight in offspring that persists into adulthood and hepatomegaly in dams; Das 2017 showed differences in transcription of genes in steatosis. There were increases in gene transcription in genes active in steatosis caused by PFNA compared with the control. This study is now looking at the molecular level at genes in pathways that regulate steatosis and whether they increase or decrease transcription that are involved in regulation of steatosis. This study shows they do and provides biological plausibility for the effect.

It was noted that this should be added to liver section of EHS Summary.

For the Mutagenicity endpoint it was decided to remove the star. Data that shows mutagenicity is not supported with more current data at this time.

For the Neurotoxicity endpoint it was decided to remove the star. The member who studied this endpoint is not here to discuss it further.

Motion: SAB recommends listing PFNA and its salts on the TURA list due to persistence, bioaccumulation, developmental/ reproductive effects, immunotoxicity, and effects on liver, with additional concern for mobility in the environment, neurotoxicity and corrosivity.

Discussion: How do we define mobility? We are defining it as presence in remote regions. The relevance of mobility was questioned for Massachusetts and concerns about the greater world were voiced.
8 in favor; none opposed; none abstaining. (note: one member was out of the room during vote)

PFHpA

The EHS summary for PFHpA was handed out and the Board began with what was documented on the white board at the last meeting. It was noted that the ACC/Fluorocouncil submitted Russell 2015 and the Zurich statement (these were also on the previous LibGuide). Items bolded and starred are key endpoints:
*Persistence - Persistent
Bioaccumulation – displays bioaccumulation potential, but less than longer chains (Zhao 2013); 70 days (Russell 2015) to 1.5 years* human half-life (Zhang 2013).
Mobility – Measured in Antarctic birds/penguins – long range transport; detected in media throughout the world – every sample in Australia NICNAS.
*Liver – Effects on serum/signaling PPAR gamma mediated; PPARa Rosenmai 2017, Wolf 2012. Activation of two PPAR receptors.
Developmental – Kim 2015 developmental toxicity; Amphibian teratogenic effects heart and liver plus gene expression
Corrosivity – Corrosive [in concentrated form]
Toxicokinetics – 70 days - 1.5 years* half-life human (moved to bioaccumulation)

For Bioaccumulation, Russell 2015 supported what we saw as the range and trend over different chain lengths. Zhao is an earthworm study. Bioaccumulation concern is earthworms and long human elimination half-life. Freberg 2010, a study of professional ski waxers, was also cited.

For the Developmental Toxicity endpoint, Kim 2015 shows developmental toxicity, amphibian teratorgenic effects and showed modulated gene expression (supporting info on mechanism). A visitor noted that Kim 2015 suggests that PFHpA is a developmental toxicant and teratogen and “suggests” does not mean the same as “causes”.

For PFHpA there were fewer studies to evaluate. MassDEP considered it structurally similar [to PFOA] so they are considering it as hazardous as the other long chains. Other endpoints might also be a concern, but we don’t have evidence for them at this time. PPAR alpha binding is an important consideration that would indicate more evidence; it is the strongest evidence that exists. PPAR alpha is consistent withwhat we have seen in other PFAS. The two liver studies are robust, but there is a general lack of studies for other endpoints. It was noted that gaps in information are important to document.

Motion:
SAB Recommends listing PFHpA and its salts on TURA list due to persistence and liver effects, with concerns on corrosivity, mobility and bioaccumulation.
8 in favor, none opposed, 1 abstention.

PFAS Precursors and Range of Substances

The discussion continued about PFAS precursors and the range of substances. The recently updated OECD Schematic Overview of identified PFAS was handed out. We have basically looked at substances in the top 2 tiers of the OECD Schematic. Phosphonic and phosphinic acids and ethers would be logical next substances to review. Preliminary research is not showing a lot of studies or data for these substances. TURI will prepare what has been found for the next meeting.

Regarding breakdown chains and which chemicals are actually in use and for what, TURI will be researching that. ACC mentioned that they could help with that and also noted that the OECD schematic is not correct – ethers are not PFAAs. Liz suggested scheduling a conference call with ACC and the FluoroCouncil to learn more. The ACC/ FluoroCouncil stated they will submit comments on the TURI PFAS Summary document and the OECD Schematic. A board member noted that once we’ve looked at the breakdown products, then we need to see what precursors break down into those; otherwise, there’s no benefit for health and the environment.

A Visitor noted that compressed fiber paper plates being used today are compostable, whereas plastic coated ones are not. The compressed fiber paper plates are coated with PFAS. It was noted that PFAS persist in compost and there is plant uptake. A visitor stated that composting doesn’t produce PFAAs, only acrylate polymers.

A visitor cautioned against using read-across. A Board member noted that we have not used read-across for the substances we have discussed thus far. A visitor noted that the C6 fluoroacyrylate polymer takes 1,000 years to break down and is not bioavailable.

Next meeting

Possible future meeting dates: December 12th or January 16th. Heather will check with the members who are not here and confirm the date.

Handouts

New member training handouts:

PFAS Summary Document
EHS Summary PFNA
EHS Summary PFHpA
OECD 2018: Schematic overview of the structure categories of identified PFASs