State officials will be seeking guidance from the Secretaries’ Science Advisory Board, comprised of experts in various fields, on existing PFAS health risk data. The meeting will take place on Wednesday at 10 a.m. in Raleigh. The board, which advises the departments of Environmental Quality and Health and Human Services, will be reviewing exposure assessments from the CDC and EPA related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) compounds.
Exposure assessments, which involve measuring the amount, frequency, and duration of exposure, are essential in determining whether a community has been exposed to specific substances in their environment. The public is welcome to attend the meeting in person at the Archdale Building in Raleigh or listen online via WebEx using the provided webinar number and password. In-person attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a public comment period by signing up upon arrival.
The agenda for the meeting will also cover updates on a PFAS rulemaking package and peer-reviewed studies published since the board’s 2023 recommendation on PFMOAA, a PFAS unique to North Carolina. Additionally, discussions will be held on human health risk data for 1,4-Dioxane in drinking water. This substance is a solvent used in manufacturing other chemicals and is a trace contaminant in certain consumer products, such as cosmetics, detergents, and shampoos, according to the CDC.
The Secretaries’ Science Advisory Board is composed of experts in toxicology, public health, ecology, engineering, and other relevant fields. They serve to provide guidance and support to the departments of Environmental Quality and Health and Human Services. For more information on the board and access to recordings of past meetings, visit the website.