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(M/MF146) Approach to risk assessment of perfluorinated alkyl sulfonates in Canada. Lewis, Mark1, Chénier, Robert1, Breton, R.1, Walker, J.1, 1 ABSTRACT- The Canadian Environmental Protection Act requires that the Canadian Ministers of Environment and Health "categorize" and then "screen" substances listed on the Domestic Substances List (DSL) in order to determine whether they are "toxic" as defined in the Act. Of the approximately 23 000 substances on Canada's DSL, 196 have been identified as perflourinated alkyl substances (PFAs), many of which have recently been noted for their potential for long range transport, persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicity. Similarly, the US Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) requires the TSCA Interagency Testing Committee (ITC) to "categorize" and "screen" substancezs listed on the TSCA Inventory. The ITC screended approximately 13 000 commercially-available substances on the TSCA Inventory for potential to persist and bioconcentrate and identified 19 PFAs which were common to the 196 recognised by Environment Canada. Environment Canada and Health Canada will be completing screening level risk assessments of the PFAs identified under the DSL program. This exercise is supported by the international effort to collect necessary data on perfluorooctanyl sulfonate and related compounds in preparation for an initial assessment report under the OECD Existing Chemicals Program. The Canadian approach to the environmental assessment of this broad class of perfluorinated alkyl compounds will be presented, including findings on Canadain production, importation, sale and use, in addition to information related to chemical properties, environmental fate, and effects with comparisons being made with corresponding estimates derived by the ITC. Key words: perfluorinated alkyl substances, risk assessment, Canada |
