IRIS Toxicological Review of Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) and Related Salts (External Review Draft)
EPA will be developing an Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) assessment of Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) and Related Compound Ammonium Perfluorobutanoic Acid with an external review draft assessment for public comment and external peer review. When final, the assessment will appear on the IRIS database.
Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA, CASRN 375-22 -4) and its related salt (ammonium perfluorobutanoic acid; NH4+PFBA, CASRN 10495-86-0) are members of the group per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Concerns about PFBA and other PFAS stem from the resistance of these compounds to hydrolysis, photolysis, and biodegradation, which leads to their persistence in the environment. PFASs are not naturally occurring in the environment; they are man-made compounds that have been used widely over the past several decades in consumer products and industrial applications because of their resistance to heat, oil, stains, grease, and water.
PFBA is a breakdown product of other PFASs that are used in stain-resistant fabrics, paper food packaging, and carpets; it was also used for manufacturing photographic film, and it is used as a substitute for longer chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) in consumer products. PFBA has been found to accumulate in agricultural crops and it has been detected in household dust, soils, food products, and surface, ground, and drinking water. As such, exposure is possible via inhalation of indoor or outdoor air, ingestion of drinking water and food, and dermal contact with PFBA-containing products.
Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA, CASRN 375-22 -4) and its related salt (ammonium perfluorobutanoic acid; NH4+PFBA, CASRN 10495-86-0) are members of the group per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Concerns about PFBA and other PFAS stem from the resistance of these compounds to hydrolysis, photolysis, and biodegradation, which leads to their persistence in the environment. PFASs are not naturally occurring in the environment; they are man-made compounds that have been used widely over the past several decades in consumer products and industrial applications because of their resistance to heat, oil, stains, grease, and water.
PFBA is a breakdown product of other PFASs that are used in stain-resistant fabrics, paper food packaging, and carpets; it was also used for manufacturing photographic film, and it is used as a substitute for longer chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) in consumer products. PFBA has been found to accumulate in agricultural crops and it has been detected in household dust, soils, food products, and surface, ground, and drinking water. As such, exposure is possible via inhalation of indoor or outdoor air, ingestion of drinking water and food, and dermal contact with PFBA-containing products.
Impact/Purpose
EPA is undertaking development of the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) health assessment for Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA, CASRN 375-22 -4) and its related salt (ammonium perfluorobutanoic acid; NH4+PFBA, CASRN 10495-86-0). The outcome of this project is an IRIS Toxicological Review and Executive Summary for PFBA that will be entered into the IRIS database.Citation
U.S. EPA. IRIS Toxicological Review of Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) and Related Salts (External Review Draft). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, 2021.History/Chronology
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 01- Nov 2019 | EPA released the Systematic Review Protocol for the PFAS IRIS Assessments (Preliminary Assessment Materials). [Federal Register Notice Nov 8, 2019] |
| 02- Jul 2020 | EPA released an update to the Systematic Review Protocol for the PFBA, PFHxA, PFHxS, PFNA, and PFDA IRIS Assessments in response to public comments. |
Download(s)
This download(s) is distributed solely for the purpose of pre-dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. It has not been formally disseminated by EPA. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency determination or policy.
- IRIS TOXICOLOGICAL REVIEW OF PERFLUOROBUTANOIC ACID (PFBA) AND RELATED SALTS (FINAL REPORT, 2022) (PDF) (146 pp, 2.8 MB, about PDF)
- Final Charge for the External Peer Review of EPA’s Draft Toxicological Review of Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) and Related Salts (PDF) (6 pp, 84.0 KB, about PDF)
- FINAL PEER REVIEW REPORT
- PUBLIC COMMENT AND EXTERNAL REVIEW DRAFT, OCT 2021 (PDF) (129 pp, 2.9 MB, about PDF)
- SUPPLEMENTAL INFO, PUBLIC COMMENT AND EXTERNAL REVIEW DRAFT, OCT 2021 (PDF) (90 pp, 1.9 MB, about PDF)
Related Link(s)
- Systematic Review Protocol for the PFAS IRIS Assessments (2021)
- Systematic Review Protocol for the Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) and Related Compound Ammonium Perfluorobutanoic Acid IRIS Assessment (Preliminary Assessment Materials, 2019)
- Toxicological Review of Perfluorobutanoic Acid and Related Compound Ammonium Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) (Interagency Science Consultation Draft, 2020)
- IRIS Toxicological Review of Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) and Related Salts (Public Comment and External Review Draft, 2021)