Range of the perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) safe dose for human health: An international collaboration.

Many government agencies and expert groups have estimated a dose-rate of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) that would protect human health. Most of these evaluations are based on the same studies (whether of humans, laboratory animals, or both), and all note various uncertainties in our existing knowledge. Nonetheless, the values of these various, estimated, safe-doses vary widely, with some being more than 100,000 fold different. This sort of discrepancy invites scrutiny and explanation. Otherwise what is the lay public to make of this disparity? The Steering Committee of the Alliance for Risk Assessment (2022) called for scientists interested in attempting to understand and narrow these disparities. An advisory committee of nine scientists from four countries was selected from nominations received, and a subsequent invitation to scientists internationally led to the formation of three technical teams (for a total of 24 scientists from 8 countries). The teams reviewed relevant information and independently developed ranges for estimated PFOA safe doses. All three teams determined that the available epidemiologic information could not form a reliable basis for a PFOA safe dose-assessment in the absence of mechanistic data that are relevant for humans at serum concentrations seen in the general population. Based instead on dose-response data from five studies of PFOA-exposed laboratory animals, we estimated that PFOA dose-rates 10-70 ng/kg-day are protective of human health.

Comparison of positive SARS-CoV-2 incidence rate with environmental and socioeconomic factors in northern Illinois.

Early studies showed positive associations fine particulate matter (PM2.5), course particulate matter PM10, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and Ozone (O3) concentrations with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) confirmed cases in the United States. One study showed that a1 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 is associated with an 8% increase in the COVID-19 death rate. Specifically, Chicago and surrounding suburbs have been labeled hot spots in the United States and correlation with air pollutants concentration will help identify specific communities most at risk. A number of studies have identified demographic variables associated with increased positive SARS-CoV-2 and the importance of air quality and socioeconomic factors must be further understood for more targeted public health responses. The results of this analysis noted positive relationships between zip code SARS-CoV-2 incidence rate and environmental and demographic EJ indicators. Evaluation of race and SARS-CoV-2 incidence rate at the zip code level found positive moderate correlations for ethnic minority individuals.