Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)
Chemical Groups: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
Also Known As: PFOS
CASRN: 1763-23-1
Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life
Freshwater
Short Term Concentration (µg/L) No data
Long Term Concentration (µg/L) No data
Date No data
Marine
Short Term Concentration (µg/L) No data
Long Term Concentration (µg/L) No data
Date No data
Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Agriculture
Irrigation
Concentration (µg/L) No data
Date No data
Livestock
Concentration (µg/L) No data
Date No data
Sediment Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life
Freshwater
Concentration (µg/kg dry weight) ISQG No data
Concentration (µg/kg dry weight) PEL No data
Date No data
Marine
Concentration (µg/kg dry weight) ISQG No data
Concentration (µg/kg dry weight) PEL No data
Date No data
Soil Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Environmental and Human Health
Concentration (mg/kg dry weight) Agricultural 0.01
|
Soil Quality Guidelines for PFOS (mg/kg dry weight [dw]) |
||||
|
|
Land Use |
|||
|
|
Agricultural |
Residential/ |
Commercial |
Industrial |
|
Final Guideline |
0.01 |
0.01 |
0.01 |
0.01 |
|
SoQGHH Limiting pathway for SoQGHH
|
0.01 Protection of potable groundwater |
0.01 Protection of potable groundwater |
0.01 Protection of potable groundwatera |
0.01 Protection of potable groundwatera
|
|
SoQGE |
0.01 |
0.01
|
0.2 (coarse)b 0.1 (fine)c
|
0.2 (coarse)b 0.1 (fine)c |
|
Limiting pathway for SoQGE |
Livestock and wildlife soil and food ingestiond |
Livestock and wildlife soil and food ingestiond |
Groundwater (aquatic life)e |
Groundwater (aquatic life)e |
|
Notes: SoQGE = soil quality guideline for environmental health; SoQGHH = soil quality guideline for human health. a For pH between 5 and 7. Based on a median Koc of 1445 L/kg; PFOS Koc is highly variably (229 to 6,310 L/kg; Franz Environmental Inc. 2014), therefore the level of protection afforded by this SoQGPW may not be appropriate for all sites. Where groundwater is used as a potable water source, groundwater concentrations should be compared directly to the GWQGPW value. Where groundwater is used for other purposes (e.g., irrigation of produce), this should be evaluated on a site-specific basis. b Coarse-grained soil is soil in which more than 50% of particles (by mass) are larger than 75 μm mean diameter (D50 > 75 μm). c Fine-grained soil is soil in which more than 50% of particles (by mass) are smaller than 75 μm mean diameter (D50 < 75 μm). d Numerous toxicological studies on soil organisms were critically evaluated (i.e., plants, invertebrates, mammals and birds) for the various land use/exposure pathways. Secondary consumers (organisms which consume both plants and soil invertebrates) were the most sensitive and therefore the soil quality guideline for environmental health is based on these receptors. e The surface water guideline used to calculate the protection of aquatic life soil guideline is taken directly from and is identical to the Federal Environmental Quality Guidelines (FEQG) (ECCC 2018). The FEQG is based on toxicity data for a wide range of aquatic species (fish, aquatic invertebrates, amphibians and aquatic plants). See ECCC (2018) for derivation details. |
||||
Concentration (mg/kg dry weight) Residential/ parkland 0.01
|
Soil Quality Guidelines for PFOS (mg/kg dry weight [dw]) |
||||
|
|
Land Use |
|||
|
|
Agricultural |
Residential/ |
Commercial |
Industrial |
|
Final Guideline |
0.01 |
0.01 |
0.01 |
0.01 |
|
SoQGHH Limiting pathway for SoQGHH
|
0.01 Protection of potable groundwater |
0.01 Protection of potable groundwater |
0.01 Protection of potable groundwatera |
0.01 Protection of potable groundwatera
|
|
SoQGE |
0.01 |
0.01
|
0.2 (coarse)b 0.1 (fine)c
|
0.2 (coarse)b 0.1 (fine)c |
|
Limiting pathway for SoQGE |
Livestock and wildlife soil and food ingestiond |
Livestock and wildlife soil and food ingestiond |
Groundwater (aquatic life)e |
Groundwater (aquatic life)e |
|
Notes: SoQGE = soil quality guideline for environmental health; SoQGHH = soil quality guideline for human health. a For pH between 5 and 7. Based on a median Koc of 1445 L/kg; PFOS Koc is highly variably (229 to 6,310 L/kg; Franz Environmental Inc. 2014), therefore the level of protection afforded by this SoQGPW may not be appropriate for all sites. Where groundwater is used as a potable water source, groundwater concentrations should be compared directly to the GWQGPW value. Where groundwater is used for other purposes (e.g., irrigation of produce), this should be evaluated on a site-specific basis. b Coarse-grained soil is soil in which more than 50% of particles (by mass) are larger than 75 μm mean diameter (D50 > 75 μm). c Fine-grained soil is soil in which more than 50% of particles (by mass) are smaller than 75 μm mean diameter (D50 < 75 μm). d Numerous toxicological studies on soil organisms were critically evaluated (i.e., plants, invertebrates, mammals and birds) for the various land use/exposure pathways. Secondary consumers (organisms which consume both plants and soil invertebrates) were the most sensitive and therefore the soil quality guideline for environmental health is based on these receptors. e The surface water guideline used to calculate the protection of aquatic life soil guideline is taken directly from and is identical to the Federal Environmental Quality Guidelines (FEQG) (ECCC 2018). The FEQG is based on toxicity data for a wide range of aquatic species (fish, aquatic invertebrates, amphibians and aquatic plants). See ECCC (2018) for derivation details. |
||||
Concentration (mg/kg dry weight) Commercial 0.01
|
Soil Quality Guidelines for PFOS (mg/kg dry weight [dw]) |
||||
|
|
Land Use |
|||
|
|
Agricultural |
Residential/ |
Commercial |
Industrial |
|
Final Guideline |
0.01 |
0.01 |
0.01 |
0.01 |
|
SoQGHH Limiting pathway for SoQGHH
|
0.01 Protection of potable groundwater |
0.01 Protection of potable groundwater |
0.01 Protection of potable groundwatera |
0.01 Protection of potable groundwatera
|
|
SoQGE |
0.01 |
0.01
|
0.2 (coarse)b 0.1 (fine)c
|
0.2 (coarse)b 0.1 (fine)c |
|
Limiting pathway for SoQGE |
Livestock and wildlife soil and food ingestiond |
Livestock and wildlife soil and food ingestiond |
Groundwater (aquatic life)e |
Groundwater (aquatic life)e |
|
Notes: SoQGE = soil quality guideline for environmental health; SoQGHH = soil quality guideline for human health. a For pH between 5 and 7. Based on a median Koc of 1445 L/kg; PFOS Koc is highly variably (229 to 6,310 L/kg; Franz Environmental Inc. 2014), therefore the level of protection afforded by this SoQGPW may not be appropriate for all sites. Where groundwater is used as a potable water source, groundwater concentrations should be compared directly to the GWQGPW value. Where groundwater is used for other purposes (e.g., irrigation of produce), this should be evaluated on a site-specific basis. b Coarse-grained soil is soil in which more than 50% of particles (by mass) are larger than 75 μm mean diameter (D50 > 75 μm). c Fine-grained soil is soil in which more than 50% of particles (by mass) are smaller than 75 μm mean diameter (D50 < 75 μm). d Numerous toxicological studies on soil organisms were critically evaluated (i.e., plants, invertebrates, mammals and birds) for the various land use/exposure pathways. Secondary consumers (organisms which consume both plants and soil invertebrates) were the most sensitive and therefore the soil quality guideline for environmental health is based on these receptors. e The surface water guideline used to calculate the protection of aquatic life soil guideline is taken directly from and is identical to the Federal Environmental Quality Guidelines (FEQG) (ECCC 2018). The FEQG is based on toxicity data for a wide range of aquatic species (fish, aquatic invertebrates, amphibians and aquatic plants). See ECCC (2018) for derivation details. |
||||
Concentration (mg/kg dry weight) Industrial 0.01
|
Soil Quality Guidelines for PFOS (mg/kg dry weight [dw]) |
||||
|
|
Land Use |
|||
|
|
Agricultural |
Residential/ |
Commercial |
Industrial |
|
Final Guideline |
0.01 |
0.01 |
0.01 |
0.01 |
|
SoQGHH Limiting pathway for SoQGHH
|
0.01 Protection of potable groundwater |
0.01 Protection of potable groundwater |
0.01 Protection of potable groundwatera |
0.01 Protection of potable groundwatera
|
|
SoQGE |
0.01 |
0.01
|
0.2 (coarse)b 0.1 (fine)c
|
0.2 (coarse)b 0.1 (fine)c |
|
Limiting pathway for SoQGE |
Livestock and wildlife soil and food ingestiond |
Livestock and wildlife soil and food ingestiond |
Groundwater (aquatic life)e |
Groundwater (aquatic life)e |
|
Notes: SoQGE = soil quality guideline for environmental health; SoQGHH = soil quality guideline for human health. a For pH between 5 and 7. Based on a median Koc of 1445 L/kg; PFOS Koc is highly variably (229 to 6,310 L/kg; Franz Environmental Inc. 2014), therefore the level of protection afforded by this SoQGPW may not be appropriate for all sites. Where groundwater is used as a potable water source, groundwater concentrations should be compared directly to the GWQGPW value. Where groundwater is used for other purposes (e.g., irrigation of produce), this should be evaluated on a site-specific basis. b Coarse-grained soil is soil in which more than 50% of particles (by mass) are larger than 75 μm mean diameter (D50 > 75 μm). c Fine-grained soil is soil in which more than 50% of particles (by mass) are smaller than 75 μm mean diameter (D50 < 75 μm). d Numerous toxicological studies on soil organisms were critically evaluated (i.e., plants, invertebrates, mammals and birds) for the various land use/exposure pathways. Secondary consumers (organisms which consume both plants and soil invertebrates) were the most sensitive and therefore the soil quality guideline for environmental health is based on these receptors. e The surface water guideline used to calculate the protection of aquatic life soil guideline is taken directly from and is identical to the Federal Environmental Quality Guidelines (FEQG) (ECCC 2018). The FEQG is based on toxicity data for a wide range of aquatic species (fish, aquatic invertebrates, amphibians and aquatic plants). See ECCC (2018) for derivation details. |
||||
Date 2021
Tissue Residue Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Widlife Consumer of Aquatic Biota
Concentration (µg/L) No data
Date No data
Groundwater Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Environmental and Human Health
(Coarse Soil) Concentration (mg/L) - Agricultural/Residential 0.0006
Groundwater quality guidelines for PFOS (mg/L) considering ecological and human receptors
|
|
Soil typea |
|
|
|
Coarse |
Fine |
|
Final groundwater quality guideline (GWQGF)b |
0.0006 |
0.0006 |
|
Groundwater guideline for the protection of human health (GWQGPW)c |
0.0006 |
0.0006 |
|
Groundwater guideline for the protection of ecological receptors (GWQGE)d |
0.007 |
0.007 |
|
Groundwater contact (GWQGGC) by soil-dependent organisms |
1 |
1 |
|
Protection of freshwater life (GWQGFL)e |
0.007 |
0.007 |
|
Protection of marine life (GWQGML) |
NC |
NC |
|
Protection of livestock watering (GWQGLW) |
0.3 |
0.3 |
|
Protection of irrigation water (GWQGIR) |
NC |
NC |
|
Management considerations (GWQGM) – 50% solubility |
200 |
200 |
NC = not calculated
a Coarse-grained soil contains more than 50%, by mass, particles larger than 75 μm mean diameter (D50 >75 μm). Fine-grained soil contains more than 50%, by mass, particles smaller than 75 μm mean diameter (D50 <75 μm).
b The final groundwater quality guideline (GWQGF) is the lowest of the pathway-specific guidelines for ecological and human receptors and considers other management factors such as substance solubility, analytical detection limits and background concentrations.
c GWQGPW are adopted directly from the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality, developed by Health Canada (CCME 2015). Therefore, the GWQGPW is equivalent to the Maximum Acceptable Concentration (MAC) of 0.0006 mg/L developed by Health Canada (HC 2018a).
d The groundwater quality guideline for the protection of ecological receptors (GWQGE) is the lowest of the pathway-specific guidelines for ecological receptors.
e GWQGFL is the concentration in groundwater that is expected to protect against potential impacts on freshwater life from PFOS originating in soil that may enter groundwater and subsequently discharge to a surface water body. This pathway may be applicable under any land use category where a surface water body sustaining aquatic life is present (i.e., within 10 km of the site). Where the distance to the nearest surface water body is greater than 10 km, application of the pathway should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by considering the site-specific conditions.
(Coarse Soil) Concentration (mg/L) - Commercial/Industrial 0.0006
Groundwater quality guidelines for PFOS (mg/L) considering ecological and human receptors
|
|
Soil typea |
|
|
|
Coarse |
Fine |
|
Final groundwater quality guideline (GWQGF)b |
0.0006 |
0.0006 |
|
Groundwater guideline for the protection of human health (GWQGPW)c |
0.0006 |
0.0006 |
|
Groundwater guideline for the protection of ecological receptors (GWQGE)d |
0.007 |
0.007 |
|
Groundwater contact (GWQGGC) by soil-dependent organisms |
1 |
1 |
|
Protection of freshwater life (GWQGFL)e |
0.007 |
0.007 |
|
Protection of marine life (GWQGML) |
NC |
NC |
|
Protection of livestock watering (GWQGLW) |
0.3 |
0.3 |
|
Protection of irrigation water (GWQGIR) |
NC |
NC |
|
Management considerations (GWQGM) – 50% solubility |
200 |
200 |
NC = not calculated
a Coarse-grained soil contains more than 50%, by mass, particles larger than 75 μm mean diameter (D50 >75 μm). Fine-grained soil contains more than 50%, by mass, particles smaller than 75 μm mean diameter (D50 <75 μm).
b The final groundwater quality guideline (GWQGF) is the lowest of the pathway-specific guidelines for ecological and human receptors and considers other management factors such as substance solubility, analytical detection limits and background concentrations.
c GWQGPW are adopted directly from the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality, developed by Health Canada (CCME 2015). Therefore, the GWQGPW is equivalent to the Maximum Acceptable Concentration (MAC) of 0.0006 mg/L developed by Health Canada (HC 2018a).
d The groundwater quality guideline for the protection of ecological receptors (GWQGE) is the lowest of the pathway-specific guidelines for ecological receptors.
e GWQGFL is the concentration in groundwater that is expected to protect against potential impacts on freshwater life from PFOS originating in soil that may enter groundwater and subsequently discharge to a surface water body. This pathway may be applicable under any land use category where a surface water body sustaining aquatic life is present (i.e., within 10 km of the site). Where the distance to the nearest surface water body is greater than 10 km, application of the pathway should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by considering the site-specific conditions.
(Fine Soil) Concentration (mg/L) - Agricultural/Residential 0.0006
Groundwater quality guidelines for PFOS (mg/L) considering ecological and human receptors
|
|
Soil typea |
|
|
|
Coarse |
Fine |
|
Final groundwater quality guideline (GWQGF)b |
0.0006 |
0.0006 |
|
Groundwater guideline for the protection of human health (GWQGPW)c |
0.0006 |
0.0006 |
|
Groundwater guideline for the protection of ecological receptors (GWQGE)d |
0.007 |
0.007 |
|
Groundwater contact (GWQGGC) by soil-dependent organisms |
1 |
1 |
|
Protection of freshwater life (GWQGFL)e |
0.007 |
0.007 |
|
Protection of marine life (GWQGML) |
NC |
NC |
|
Protection of livestock watering (GWQGLW) |
0.3 |
0.3 |
|
Protection of irrigation water (GWQGIR) |
NC |
NC |
|
Management considerations (GWQGM) – 50% solubility |
200 |
200 |
NC = not calculated
a Coarse-grained soil contains more than 50%, by mass, particles larger than 75 μm mean diameter (D50 >75 μm). Fine-grained soil contains more than 50%, by mass, particles smaller than 75 μm mean diameter (D50 <75 μm).
b The final groundwater quality guideline (GWQGF) is the lowest of the pathway-specific guidelines for ecological and human receptors and considers other management factors such as substance solubility, analytical detection limits and background concentrations.
c GWQGPW are adopted directly from the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality, developed by Health Canada (CCME 2015). Therefore, the GWQGPW is equivalent to the Maximum Acceptable Concentration (MAC) of 0.0006 mg/L developed by Health Canada (HC 2018a).
d The groundwater quality guideline for the protection of ecological receptors (GWQGE) is the lowest of the pathway-specific guidelines for ecological receptors.
e GWQGFL is the concentration in groundwater that is expected to protect against potential impacts on freshwater life from PFOS originating in soil that may enter groundwater and subsequently discharge to a surface water body. This pathway may be applicable under any land use category where a surface water body sustaining aquatic life is present (i.e., within 10 km of the site). Where the distance to the nearest surface water body is greater than 10 km, application of the pathway should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by considering the site-specific conditions.
(Fine Soil) Concentration (mg/L) - Commercial/Industrial 0.0006
Groundwater quality guidelines for PFOS (mg/L) considering ecological and human receptors
|
|
Soil typea |
|
|
|
Coarse |
Fine |
|
Final groundwater quality guideline (GWQGF)b |
0.0006 |
0.0006 |
|
Groundwater guideline for the protection of human health (GWQGPW)c |
0.0006 |
0.0006 |
|
Groundwater guideline for the protection of ecological receptors (GWQGE)d |
0.007 |
0.007 |
|
Groundwater contact (GWQGGC) by soil-dependent organisms |
1 |
1 |
|
Protection of freshwater life (GWQGFL)e |
0.007 |
0.007 |
|
Protection of marine life (GWQGML) |
NC |
NC |
|
Protection of livestock watering (GWQGLW) |
0.3 |
0.3 |
|
Protection of irrigation water (GWQGIR) |
NC |
NC |
|
Management considerations (GWQGM) – 50% solubility |
200 |
200 |
NC = not calculated
a Coarse-grained soil contains more than 50%, by mass, particles larger than 75 μm mean diameter (D50 >75 μm). Fine-grained soil contains more than 50%, by mass, particles smaller than 75 μm mean diameter (D50 <75 μm).
b The final groundwater quality guideline (GWQGF) is the lowest of the pathway-specific guidelines for ecological and human receptors and considers other management factors such as substance solubility, analytical detection limits and background concentrations.
c GWQGPW are adopted directly from the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality, developed by Health Canada (CCME 2015). Therefore, the GWQGPW is equivalent to the Maximum Acceptable Concentration (MAC) of 0.0006 mg/L developed by Health Canada (HC 2018a).
d The groundwater quality guideline for the protection of ecological receptors (GWQGE) is the lowest of the pathway-specific guidelines for ecological receptors.
e GWQGFL is the concentration in groundwater that is expected to protect against potential impacts on freshwater life from PFOS originating in soil that may enter groundwater and subsequently discharge to a surface water body. This pathway may be applicable under any land use category where a surface water body sustaining aquatic life is present (i.e., within 10 km of the site). Where the distance to the nearest surface water body is greater than 10 km, application of the pathway should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by considering the site-specific conditions.
Date 2021
Resources
- Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) - Canadian Soil and Groundwater Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Environmental and Human Health
- Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) - Scientific Criteria Document for the Development of the Canadian Soil and Groundwater Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Environmental and Human Health (2021)