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Emerging Contaminants Emerging Contaminants Identification Identification Concerns Concerns Actions Actions Roland Hemmett Roland Hemmett Science Advisor Science Advisor USEPA Region 2 USEPA Region 2 Presented at: NJ Water Monitoring Council Meeting, January 23, 2008

Emerging Contaminants Identification Concerns Actions Contaminants of Concern web - … · •EPA does not have approved chemistry methods to detect many of these chemicals. Emerging

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Page 1: Emerging Contaminants Identification Concerns Actions Contaminants of Concern web - … · •EPA does not have approved chemistry methods to detect many of these chemicals. Emerging

Emerging ContaminantsEmerging Contaminants

IdentificationIdentification

ConcernsConcerns

ActionsActions

Roland HemmettRoland HemmettScience AdvisorScience AdvisorUSEPA Region 2USEPA Region 2

Presented at: NJ Water Monitoring Council Meeting, January 23, 2008

Page 2: Emerging Contaminants Identification Concerns Actions Contaminants of Concern web - … · •EPA does not have approved chemistry methods to detect many of these chemicals. Emerging

What is an Emerging ChemicalWhat is an Emerging Chemical

• The term “emerging chemical” refers to a chemical currently in the public eye, and that is brought to the attention of EPA Headquarters and Regions by external sources.

• Chemicals may be identified based on information that makes them likely to be of concern, such as widespread exposure, persistence, bioaccumulation, or toxicity data.

Page 3: Emerging Contaminants Identification Concerns Actions Contaminants of Concern web - … · •EPA does not have approved chemistry methods to detect many of these chemicals. Emerging

What is an Emerging ChemicalWhat is an Emerging Chemical

• Emerging chemicals include not only those in active production or use in the domestic market, but also those that are a byproduct of production and manufacturing, a combustion byproduct, or a metabolite (i.e., a breakdown product) of a parent compound, as well as classes or categories of chemicals.

Page 4: Emerging Contaminants Identification Concerns Actions Contaminants of Concern web - … · •EPA does not have approved chemistry methods to detect many of these chemicals. Emerging

Quick Review of emerging contaminants Quick Review of emerging contaminants IssuesIssues

••The characteristics of many emerging contaminants are The characteristics of many emerging contaminants are (low levels, multiple sources, long(low levels, multiple sources, long--term issue but probably term issue but probably not an emergency issue)not an emergency issue)

••There is a concern about possible health and other effects, There is a concern about possible health and other effects, both to wildlife and humansboth to wildlife and humans

••No standardized biological test data available No standardized biological test data available

••EPA does not have approved chemistry methods to detect EPA does not have approved chemistry methods to detect many of these chemicalsmany of these chemicals

Page 5: Emerging Contaminants Identification Concerns Actions Contaminants of Concern web - … · •EPA does not have approved chemistry methods to detect many of these chemicals. Emerging

Emerging Contaminants Issues cont.

• Enter aquatic environment from point and non-point sources

• The environment fate and transport information is lacking

• Policies to address these contaminants are complicated by differing mandates of agencies (EPA, FDA, others)

• New tools are needed to help address this issue. EPA is moving in that direction by using genomic methods.

Page 6: Emerging Contaminants Identification Concerns Actions Contaminants of Concern web - … · •EPA does not have approved chemistry methods to detect many of these chemicals. Emerging

American Chemical SocietyAmerican Chemical Society’’s s CAS RegistryCAS Registry

•• As of 4/18/2007As of 4/18/2007–– 31,322,54931,322,549 organic and inorganic substances organic and inorganic substances

have been registeredhave been registered–– 13,780,30113,780,301 are commercially availableare commercially available–– 245,316245,316 are inventoried or regulated are inventoried or regulated

substancessubstances

Source: Source: http://www.cas.org/cgihttp://www.cas.org/cgi--bin/cas/regreport.plbin/cas/regreport.pl

Page 7: Emerging Contaminants Identification Concerns Actions Contaminants of Concern web - … · •EPA does not have approved chemistry methods to detect many of these chemicals. Emerging

American Chemical SocietyAmerican Chemical Society’’s s CAS RegistryCAS Registry

•• In the past two yearsIn the past two years–– more then more then 5 million5 million new chemicals have been new chemicals have been

registeredregistered–– Only Only 5,3165,316 additional substances have been additional substances have been

added to inventoried/regulated listsadded to inventoried/regulated lists

•• Equivalent to 0.1% of new or Equivalent to 0.1% of new or commercially available chemicalscommercially available chemicals

Page 8: Emerging Contaminants Identification Concerns Actions Contaminants of Concern web - … · •EPA does not have approved chemistry methods to detect many of these chemicals. Emerging

From ID to RegulationFrom ID to Regulation

•• Detection Detection ---- Curiosity / Fear?Curiosity / Fear?•• Monitoring Monitoring ---- Where / how muchWhere / how much•• Toxicity/ExposureToxicity/Exposure ---- Is it a problem?Is it a problem?•• CanCan’’t regulate, what to do?t regulate, what to do?

–– Negotiate with sources Negotiate with sources –– Voluntary reductionsVoluntary reductions–– Possible assistancePossible assistance

•• Much later Much later ……. Regulation based on sound . Regulation based on sound scientific informationscientific information

Page 9: Emerging Contaminants Identification Concerns Actions Contaminants of Concern web - … · •EPA does not have approved chemistry methods to detect many of these chemicals. Emerging

Emerging Substances of ConcernEmerging Substances of Concern

•• Persistent, Bioaccumulative and ToxicPersistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic•• Global Organic ContaminantsGlobal Organic Contaminants•• Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care

ProductsProducts•• Endocrine Disrupting ChemicalsEndocrine Disrupting Chemicals•• NanoparticlesNanoparticles

Page 10: Emerging Contaminants Identification Concerns Actions Contaminants of Concern web - … · •EPA does not have approved chemistry methods to detect many of these chemicals. Emerging

Global Organic ContaminantsGlobal Organic Contaminants

–– Flame Retardants and their impuritiesFlame Retardants and their impurities•• polybromonated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)polybromonated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)

–– polybromonated biphenyls (PBBs)polybromonated biphenyls (PBBs)–– polybromonated dibenzopolybromonated dibenzo--pp--dioxins (PBDDs)dioxins (PBDDs)–– polybromonated dibenzofurans (PBDFs)polybromonated dibenzofurans (PBDFs)

•• Hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs)Hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs)

–– Perfluoronated Compounds Perfluoronated Compounds •• Perfluororoctane sulfonates (PFOS)Perfluororoctane sulfonates (PFOS)•• Perfluoroctanoic Acid (PFOA) Perfluoroctanoic Acid (PFOA)

Page 11: Emerging Contaminants Identification Concerns Actions Contaminants of Concern web - … · •EPA does not have approved chemistry methods to detect many of these chemicals. Emerging

Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs)Products (PPCPs)

•• Basically all prescription and overBasically all prescription and over--thethe--counter drugscounter drugs

•• Diagnostic agentsDiagnostic agents•• Dietary SupplementsDietary Supplements•• Fragrances, soaps, conditioners, Fragrances, soaps, conditioners,

sunscreens, cosmeticssunscreens, cosmetics……•• http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/

Page 12: Emerging Contaminants Identification Concerns Actions Contaminants of Concern web - … · •EPA does not have approved chemistry methods to detect many of these chemicals. Emerging

PPCPsPPCPs

•• Most diverse Most diverse ““categorycategory”” of Emerging Substances of of Emerging Substances of Concern; Many are water soluble;Concern; Many are water soluble;

•• Most common route into the environment is through Most common route into the environment is through wastewater (municipal and septic drainage) and land wastewater (municipal and septic drainage) and land application of sewage sludge and manure, and landfill application of sewage sludge and manure, and landfill leachateleachate

•• To state the obvious, the most common route to humans To state the obvious, the most common route to humans is through ingestion and topically application (although is through ingestion and topically application (although the dose is often unintended the dose is often unintended –– drinking water, breast drinking water, breast milk)milk)

•• WWTP treatment may or may not be effective at WWTP treatment may or may not be effective at removing the compounds from the effluent depending removing the compounds from the effluent depending upon the treatment and chemicalupon the treatment and chemical

Page 13: Emerging Contaminants Identification Concerns Actions Contaminants of Concern web - … · •EPA does not have approved chemistry methods to detect many of these chemicals. Emerging

EPA PPCP Fish Pilot Study

Obtaining data on emerging contaminants is a priority for EPA.

Recent research indicates that PPCPs occur widely in surface water, sediment, and municipal effluent.

Limited data are available on accumulation of PPCPs in fish.

In 2006, OST initiated the EPA Pilot Study of PPCPs in Fish Tissue to investigate PPCP occurrence in fish tissue.

Several collaborators are contributing to this project, including:

Baylor University Center for Reservoir and Aquatic SystemsEPA Great Lakes National Program OfficeMetropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater ChicagoNew Mexico Environment Department

1

Page 14: Emerging Contaminants Identification Concerns Actions Contaminants of Concern web - … · •EPA does not have approved chemistry methods to detect many of these chemicals. Emerging

Endocrine Disrupting ChemicalsEndocrine Disrupting Chemicals

•• Natural and synthetic hormonesNatural and synthetic hormones•• SurfactantsSurfactants•• PesticidesPesticides

Page 15: Emerging Contaminants Identification Concerns Actions Contaminants of Concern web - … · •EPA does not have approved chemistry methods to detect many of these chemicals. Emerging

NanoparticlesNanoparticles

•• Fullerenes (a.k.a. buckyballs)Fullerenes (a.k.a. buckyballs)•• NanotubesNanotubes•• Quantum dotsQuantum dots•• Nanopowders (metal oxides)Nanopowders (metal oxides)•• Natural particles (e.g., soot)Natural particles (e.g., soot)

Page 16: Emerging Contaminants Identification Concerns Actions Contaminants of Concern web - … · •EPA does not have approved chemistry methods to detect many of these chemicals. Emerging

NanoparticlesNanoparticles

•• Natural and manmade structures in the 1 to 100 nm size Natural and manmade structures in the 1 to 100 nm size rangerange

•• Used in nanotherapeutic pharmaceuticals, drug delivery, Used in nanotherapeutic pharmaceuticals, drug delivery, cosmetics, energy storage products, fabrics, lubricants, cosmetics, energy storage products, fabrics, lubricants, even golf ballseven golf balls

•• Potential use in contaminated site clean upPotential use in contaminated site clean up•• Environmental impacts largely unknownEnvironmental impacts largely unknown

Page 17: Emerging Contaminants Identification Concerns Actions Contaminants of Concern web - … · •EPA does not have approved chemistry methods to detect many of these chemicals. Emerging

What do we do when an Emerging What do we do when an Emerging Chemical is identifiedChemical is identified

The Agency has an Emerging Chemical Workgroup The Agency has an Emerging Chemical Workgroup within the Office of Pollution Prevention, Pesticides within the Office of Pollution Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substancesand Toxic Substances

The Workgroup is cross Agency with other The Workgroup is cross Agency with other program offices and regions involvedprogram offices and regions involved

Page 18: Emerging Contaminants Identification Concerns Actions Contaminants of Concern web - … · •EPA does not have approved chemistry methods to detect many of these chemicals. Emerging

Workgroup members fill out Emerging Chemical Profile (ECP) form. The nominating Office

compiles and brings single ECP to full workgroup

Nominate as emerging chemical?

Gather more data – bring

back to workgroup

MaybeNo

Yes

Need more information

M2P2 Review and decision on next

steps

No

Yes, emerging chemical

Alternatives analyis/pollution

prevention

Regulatory action Data gathering or research

No further action by group. Office/Region may continue to track

Create chemical workgroup or chemical lead to develop next steps

Gather existing data to support nomination. Develop profile

Region or Program Office nominate chemical for consideration

Page 19: Emerging Contaminants Identification Concerns Actions Contaminants of Concern web - … · •EPA does not have approved chemistry methods to detect many of these chemicals. Emerging
Page 20: Emerging Contaminants Identification Concerns Actions Contaminants of Concern web - … · •EPA does not have approved chemistry methods to detect many of these chemicals. Emerging

What Chemicals is the EPA EC What Chemicals is the EPA EC workgroup looking atworkgroup looking at•• Emerging alternatives to chlorinated solvents Emerging alternatives to chlorinated solvents --(n(n--propyl propyl

bromide1,2 transdichloroethylene (DCE) and bromide1,2 transdichloroethylene (DCE) and Parachlorobenzotrifluoride (PCBTF))Parachlorobenzotrifluoride (PCBTF))

•• Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs)Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs)•• BisphenolBisphenol--AA•• Decabromodiphenylether (DecaBDE)Decabromodiphenylether (DecaBDE)•• Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)•• ParabensParabens•• Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) -- PFOS, pentaBDE, chlordecone, PFOS, pentaBDE, chlordecone,

lindane, and hexabromobiphenyl.lindane, and hexabromobiphenyl.•• Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs)Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs)•• PhthalatesPhthalates•• ThalliumThallium

Page 21: Emerging Contaminants Identification Concerns Actions Contaminants of Concern web - … · •EPA does not have approved chemistry methods to detect many of these chemicals. Emerging

WhatWhat’’s Nexts Next

•• Remarkable breakthroughs have occurred Remarkable breakthroughs have occurred in the past ten years in molecular biology, in the past ten years in molecular biology, genetics, computational sciences and genetics, computational sciences and information technologiesinformation technologies

•• ORD has redirected resources (e.g., the ORD has redirected resources (e.g., the NCCT, TOXNCCT, TOX--CAST) as a down payment in CAST) as a down payment in developing, modifying, validating and developing, modifying, validating and translating this science to ensure direct translating this science to ensure direct applicability in informing Agency decisionsapplicability in informing Agency decisions

Page 22: Emerging Contaminants Identification Concerns Actions Contaminants of Concern web - … · •EPA does not have approved chemistry methods to detect many of these chemicals. Emerging

Toxicity TestingIncreased value of information, rapidity, efficiency & reduced cost for chemical screening and prioritization

Science-Informed Policy Decisions

Risk AssessmentData that ensure greater accuracy, credibility and acceptance of Agency’s risk assessment/management decisions

EDCsHPV, CCL, fuel alternatives, nanotech products, TRI listings, site-specific clean up decisions

Replacing current practices & attendant uncertainties:Modes of actionLife stage susceptibility Mixtures.Species extrapolationLow dose models.

Translational research linking research products to regulatory needs, decisions and applications

Page 23: Emerging Contaminants Identification Concerns Actions Contaminants of Concern web - … · •EPA does not have approved chemistry methods to detect many of these chemicals. Emerging

Many Ongoing Activities Directly Relate to the NRC Vision and Will Produce Valuable Outputs in the Short Term…

…but we need strategic planning to ensure regulatory relevance