Scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency completed a damning toxicity assessment on the “forever chemical” PFNA this spring, finding it interferes with human development and damages multiple organ systems, but the agency has withheld publication for months despite the report being scientifically finalized and ready for release.
What the Unreleased Report Reveals
The assessment found that PFNA, which contaminates drinking water systems serving approximately 26 million Americans, causes lower birth weights and likely damages the liver and male reproductive systems based on animal evidence. The chemical was shown to reduce testosterone levels, sperm production, and the size of reproductive organs.
Perhaps most significantly, the report calculated the specific amount of PFNA that people could safely be exposed to without harm – a critical measurement used to set cleanup standards for Superfund sites and drinking water contamination. This scientific threshold represents the foundation for regulatory action to protect public health.
Unusual Delay in Publication
According to internal documents reviewed by ProPublica and confirmed by two EPA scientists, the final version of the assessment was “completed and ready to post” in mid-April. Both scientists, who worked in the EPA’s Office of Research and Development and spoke anonymously because they weren’t authorized to discuss the unreleased report, confirmed the unusual nature of the delay.
“Scientifically, it was done,” one scientist told ProPublica. “All that was left to do was to brief higher-ups about the report and post it. In recent years, the assessments tended to be finalized within a few weeks.”
Industry Opposition and Regulatory Context
The final assessment retained the same safety calculations as the draft version published last year, which had drawn objections from industry trade groups. The completion of the PFNA assessment came shortly before the EPA announced in May its intention to rescind and reconsider limits on PFNA and several other forever chemicals in drinking water – limits that had been established last year under the Biden administration.
Darya Minovi, a senior analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists, pointed to this regulatory reversal as a potential motivation for withholding the report. “If you’re trying to roll back drinking water standards, you probably don’t want to release information that makes the case for why those standards are necessary,” Minovi explained.
Broader Pattern of Forever Chemical Concerns
The situation with PFNA reflects a larger pattern of delayed action on forever chemicals. According to The Intercept, similar concerns about regulatory delays have surrounded other PFAS chemicals, particularly regarding firefighting foam contamination that has affected communities nationwide.
PFNA belongs to the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) family, often called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down naturally in the environment. These chemicals have been widely used in consumer products including non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, and food packaging.
Public Health Implications
The Union of Concerned Scientists highlighted the consequences of withholding this critical information in a social media post last month, stating: “Without this assessment, federal and state agencies are denied the best available science that they rely on to protect public health.”
The urgency is underscored by the widespread contamination. According to the Environmental Working Group, PFAS chemicals have been detected in the tap water of numerous communities across the United States, with PFNA representing just one of many concerning contaminants in this chemical family.
The EPA told ProPublica the report would be published when finalized, but the press office declined to answer questions about what remained to be done or when publication might occur, leaving scientists and public health advocates concerned about the ongoing delay of critical health information affecting millions of Americans.
