What will be included in the EPA review process?
EPA requested data that would help it better understand general environmental and human exposure to PFOA. This would include data on use and production volume in the United States, data on chemical and product biodegradation, tests on products and studies on the routes through which PFOA moves through commerce. In addition, EPA released a draft risk assessment on January 12, 2005 (available at www.epa.gov/opptintr/pfoa/pfoarisk.htm). It is consistent with EPA’s previously stated position that the Agency “does not believe there is any reason for consumers to stop using any consumer or industrial-related products” made with PFOA. EPA’s draft risk assessment used a margin of exposure (MOE) approach, sometimes referred to as a margin of safety. Under this methodology, higher MOE values represent lower levels of risk. The values in EPA’s report – ranging from 398 to greater than 10,000 – represent substantial protection of the general population. SPI member companies have conducted extensiv
