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SPI
Statement on the EPA SAB Panel PFOA Report
February 2, 2006
The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI) today released
this statement:
The EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) Review Panel report on
PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) represents a further step in
the evaluation process in which EPA has been engaged for several
years.
The report, which will be considered by the SAB at a meeting
on February 15, does not represent EPA conclusions. It is
a response to specific questions posed by EPA to the SAB.
Along with other information, the SAB report will be taken
under advisement by the agency in the process of formulating
a revised risk assessment for PFOA.
As EPA spokeswoman Enesta Jones explained to BNA on January
31, when a final recommendation is made, agency officials
will "mesh that information with ongoing efforts by industry
and academia."
As EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson stated on January
25, 2006: "Although our risk assessment activities are
not yet complete and new data may change the current picture,
to date EPA is not aware of any studies specifically relating
current levels of PFOA exposure to human health effects."
Furthermore, on January 31 - after the release of the Panel
report - Susan Hazen, EPA's acting assistant administrator
for the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxins, stated
"The information that we have available doesn't indicate
that the routine use of household products poses a concern."
This view is also in accord with the statement on EPA's web
site that the Agency "does not believe there is any reason
for consumers to stop using any (PFOA-related) consumer or
industrial related products," which was reiterated by
EPA at its January 25, 2006 press conference.
SPI and its member companies will continue to work closely
with the scientific staff of EPA to resolve outstanding issues
relating to PFOA.
PFOA is a chemical essential to the manufacture of materials
used to make products that span the entire US economy (see
www.pfoa-facts.com).
For further information, please contact Francie Israeli at
(202) 737-0172.
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