White House Releases OSTP PFAS Strategy Team Report

On March 14, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released a report by the PFAS Strategy Team of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). This report by the team provides a high-level summary of the state of the science on PFAS research for: removal and destruction, safer alternatives, sources and pathways of exposure, and toxicity. The challenges identified in the report include: analytical methods, communication, alternatives, mixtures, reporting, and new approach methodologies. The identified opportunities include developing:

• Shared data systems across the Federal government.
• PFAS-specific high throughput assays to allow greater confidence in estimating the health effects of PFAS for which there are no available empirical data.
• A standard approach for mixtures, systematic reviews, and weight of evidence evaluation that can be used across governmental programs.

The Strategy Team will use the findings in the report to develop a strategic plan with research and development goals and priorities for federal agencies to address the identified data gaps and scientific challenges. The goal of the strategic plan will be to understand and reduce the environmental and human health effects of PFAS. For more information, view the press release and read the report.