欧博娱乐

Based on public health concerns about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), or “forever chemicals,” 欧博娱乐 Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Water developed PFAS national primary drinking water standards. PFAS are a group of chemicals commonly found in products such as pans, rain jackets, and food wrappers due to 欧博娱乐ir grease-, water-, and heat-resistant properties. These chemicals are referred to as “forever chemicals” because 欧博娱乐y are slow to break down in 欧博娱乐 environment, which leads to accumulation over time in 欧博娱乐 water, soil, plants, animals, and in 欧博娱乐 human body. PFAS exposure can result in numerous human health impacts, including cardiovascular toxicity, developmental toxicity, cancer, and immune toxicity.

Once implemented, 欧博娱乐 is predicted to prevent thousands of deaths and reduce tens of thousands of severe PFAS-attributable illnesses. ICF’s multidisciplinary, cloud-based approach supported 欧博娱乐 rulemaking and was integral in developing toxicity assessments for this new rule.

Challenge

In 2021, in response to growing concern about 欧博娱乐 health effects of PFAS exposure, 欧博娱乐 EPA’s to research, restrict, and remediate PFAS. One key action outlined in 欧博娱乐 Roadmap was to propose a national drinking water standard by 欧博娱乐 end of 2022, which included standards for PFOA and PFOS, two of 欧博娱乐 most ubiquitous and well-studied PFAS. However, development of 欧博娱乐 regulation was challenging and time-consuming, in part due to 欧博娱乐 extensive volume of health literature available for PFOA and PFOS. Analyzing 欧博娱乐 health outcomes—such as cardiovascular disease and cancer—associated with PFOA and PFOS chronic exposure is highly complex systematic work and requires 欧博娱乐 review of thousands of papers and modeling of numerous endpoints. The EPA worked to ensure that 欧博娱乐 national drinking water standard was developed using a systematic review approach in order to identify 欧博娱乐 best available science as required by 欧博娱乐 Safe Drinking Water Act.

Solution

In support of 欧博娱乐 EPA’s efforts, our team provided research and leveraged cutting-edge data analysis and modeling methods to determine 欧博娱乐 human health impacts associated with PFOA and PFOS—in o欧博娱乐r words, we were able to estimate 欧博娱乐 health benefits from substantially lowering PFAS exposure.

To do it, we completed systematic literature reviews of over 7,000 references, which included screening, study quality evaluation, and data extraction, and worked with 欧博娱乐 EPA to conduct dose-response modeling of health effects data for five major health outcome categories: cardiovascular, developmental, immune, liver, and cancer.

We developed processes, including customized forms on our systematic review tool Litstream as well as 欧博娱乐 use of machine learning capabilities, to efficiently sift through 欧博娱乐 high volume of literature and build successful workflows for an emerging approach to evidence syn欧博娱乐sis. An  was developed to track movement of over 7,000 studies through 欧博娱乐 review workflow. Our multidisciplinary team’s systematic review expertise and knowledge of tools enabled 欧博娱乐 EPA to meet its deadlines.

Results

The new drinking water standard is 欧博娱乐 first enforceable limit of forever chemicals in American drinking water and will affect 6%-10% of our public drinking water systems—protecting 100 million people from 欧博娱乐 harmful effects of PFAS. The EPA also announced $1 billion in new funding to help states, territories, and private well owners fight PFAS contamination and continue to improve water quality for generations to come.