Discussing Better Regulation on PFAS from the Perspective of Risk Research

Abstract

There is an ongoing debate about how to regulate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The purpose of the special session regarding PFAS regulation at the 36th Annual Meeting of the Society for Risk Analysis Japan (SRAJ) was to create a forum by providing an opportunity for panelists to discuss the state of regulation from various angles of risk research, while introducing topics such as the unique characteristics of PFAS and similarities with past discussions on the regulation of chemical substances. First, two of authors introduced the recent trends of scientific findings and standards, as well as a case study on risk assessment and management methods for soil and groundwater contamination in Okinawa Prefecture. The authors then discussed the state of PFAS regulation. The discussion included measures that take into account contributions from drinking water and foods, formation of PFAS from precursors in the environment, setting of endpoints that people value, economic impacts associated with regulations, and consideration of the precautionary principle and the proportionality principle.