COT PFAS Subgroup Terms of Reference – first draft

This is a paper for discussion.

This does not represent the views of the ommittee and should not be cited.  

Following publication of the COT interim position statement on per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a COT subgroup has been set up to undertake the Committee’s own consideration of the evidence base and risk assessment of these substances.

A first draft terms of reference is provided at Annex A for subgroup members to discuss, revise and agree.

Secretariat July 2023

PFAS/2023/01 – Annex A

To provide guidance to UK Government Departments and Agencies to support human health risk assessments of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) where exposures to existing and legacy PFAS is occurring through food, drinking water and other environmental media. This will include:

• Undertaking an independent review of toxicological and epidemiological data, focusing on a number of critical endpoints, and considering the biological relevance of the endpoints assessed.
•  Considering the toxicokinetics of PFAS.
• Determining whether different PFAS can be grouped for assessment and how this can be done.
• Deriving a HBGV or a number of HBGVs as the data allow.

The subgroup will endeavour to follow the guidance from the Joint COT and COC Synthesis and Integration of Epidemiological and Toxicological Evidence (SETE) subgroup in undertaking this assessment.