WEF Comments on Toxicological Profile Update

On Jan. 14, the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) submitted comments on the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services draft toxicological profile for poly brominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). This draft profile is an update to an existing document.

Comments provided by WEF, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (Washington, D.C.), and California Association of Sanitation Agencies (Sacramento) as well as several water resource recovery facilities, note a concern within the water sector for the way biosolids and land application were characterized in the document. Because the ATSDR document is a toxicological profile and not a risk assessment, the comments focused on terminology related to land application of biosolids and some statements that could be misinterpreted.

Toxicological profiles are a primary resource for health professionals, private sector organizations, and the public. So, WEF filed a request for an extension of time for consideration of the draft toxicological profile for toluene diisocyanate and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate that also was included in the profile.