Conclusion

Based on the persistent nature of PFOA in all media in the environment, its potential to bioaccumulate and biomagnify in terrestrial and marine mammals, the fact that environmental concentrations may approach effect levels of concern, the temporal trends of PFOA in polar bears, the widespread occurrence of PFOA in biota, including in remote areas, and the fact that other perfluoroalkyl compounds and precursors to PFOA may contribute to the overall additive or synergistic impact of PFOA in biota, it is proposed that PFOA, its salts and its precursors are entering the environment in a quantity or concentration or under conditions that have or may have an immediate or long-term harmful effect on the environment or its biological diversity. While there is scientific evidence that PFOA and its salts can accumulate and biomagnify in terrestrial and marine mammals, PFOA and its salts do not meet the criteria for bioaccumulation as defined in the Persistence and Bioaccumulation Regulations. Additionally, it is proposed that PFOA and its salts meet the criteria for persistence as set out in the Persistence and Bioaccumulation Regulations.

Based on a comparison of upper-bound levels of PFOA in the blood (serum) of humans with serum levels that are associated with the development of adverse effects in laboratory animals, it is considered that the resulting margins of exposure are adequately protective of human health. It is proposed that PFOA and its salts are not entering the environment in a quantity or concentration or under conditions that constitute or may constitute a danger in Canada to human life or health. Precursors of PFOA were not individually assessed, but the approach for the assessment included the contribution of precursors to total PFOA, the moiety of toxicological concern, as they can degrade to PFOA in the environment.

It is therefore proposed that PFOA, its salts and its precursors meet one or more of the criteria set out in section 64 of CEPA 1999.