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PFAS — Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

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Navigating This Website
About ITRC
Fact Sheets
1 Introduction
2 Naming Conventions and Use
2 PFAS Chemistry and Naming Conventions, History and Use of PFAS, and Sources of PFAS Releases to the Environment overview
2.1 Environmental Significance
2.2 Chemistry, Terminology, and Acronyms
2.3 Emerging Health and Environmental Concerns
2.4 PFAS Reductions and Alternative PFAS Formulations
2.5 PFAS Uses
2.6 PFAS Releases to the Environment
3 Firefighting Foams
3 Firefighting Foams Overview
3.1 Foam Formulations
3.2 Mechanisms for Release to the Environment
3.3 AFFF Procurement and Inventory
3.4 Foam Systems and Operations
3.5 Emergency Firefighting Operations
3.6 Immediate Investigative and Cleanup Actions
3.7 Treatment and Disposal
3.8 Firefighting Foam System Replacement
3.9 Federal, State, and International Regulations and Guidance
3.10 Foam Research and Development
4 Physical and Chemical Properties
4 Physical and Chemical Properties Overview
4.1 Challenges and Limitations Related to PFAS Physical and Chemical Properties
4.2 Physical Properties
4.3 Chemical Properties
5 Fate and Transport
5 Environmental Fate and Transport Processes Overview
5.1 Fate and Transport Introduction
5.2 Phase Partitioning
5.3 Media-Specific Migration Processes
5.4 Transformations
5.5 PFAS Uptake into Aquatic Organisms
5.6 PFAS Uptake into Plants
6 Occurrence
6 Media-Specific Occurrence Overview
6.1 Air
6.2 Soil and Sediment
6.3 Groundwater
6.4 Surface Water
6.5 Biota
7 Health Effects
7 Human and Ecological Health Effects of select PFAS Overview
7.1 Human Health Effects
7.2 Ecological Toxicology
8 Basis of Regulations
8 Basis of Regulations Overview
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Regulatory Programs
8.3 Differences in the Available Regulations, Advisories, and Guidance Regulatory
9 Site Risk Assessment
9 Site Risk Assessment Overview
9.1 Human Health
9.2 Ecological Risk Assessment
9.3 Uncertainty
10 Site Characterization
10 Site Characterization Overview
10.1 Site Characterization Issues Relevant to PFAS
10.2 Initial Steps
10.3 Site Investigation
10.4 Data Analysis and Interpretation
10.5 Source Identification
11 Sampling and Analysis
11 Sampling and Analytical Methods Overview
11.1 Sampling
11.2 Analytical Methods/Techniques
11.3 Data Evaluation
12 Treatment Technologies
12 Treatment Technologies Overview
12.1 Overview
12.2 Field-Implemented Liquids Treatment Technologies
12.3 Field-Implemented Solids Treatment Technologies
12.4 Incineration
12.5 Limited Application and Developing Liquids Treatment Technologies
12.6 Limited Application and Developing Solids Treatment Technologies
12.7 Integrated Remedial Solutions
12.8 Sustainability of PFAS Treatment
12.9 Improving Evaluation of PFAS Treatment Technologies
13 Stakeholder Perspectives
13 Stakeholder Perspectives Overview
13.1 Stakeholder Concerns
13.2 Specific Tribal Stakeholder Concerns
13.3 Stakeholder Resources
14 Risk Communication
14 Risk Communication Overview
14.1 Role of Risk Perception: Public Stakeholders and Decision Makers
14.2 Risk Communication Challenges
14.3 Risk Communication Planning and Engagement Tools
15 Case Studies
15 Case Studies Overview
15.1 Site Characterization Case Studies
15.2 Treatment Case Studies
15.3 Risk Assessment Case Study
15.4 Risk Communication Case Studies
Additional Information
16 References
17 Additional Information
17 Additional Information Overview
17.1 Additional Information for Media-Specific Occurrence
17.2 Additional Information for Human Health Effects
17.3 Additional Information for Risk Assessment
Acronyms
Glossary
Acknowledgments
Team Contacts
Document Feedback

 

PFAS — Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
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Acknowledgments

The members of the Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council (ITRC) PFAS Team wish to acknowledge and thank the individuals, organizations, and agencies that contributed to this online document that includes the PFAS Technical and Regulatory Guidance Document, PFAS Fact Sheets and Explainer Videos, Training Module Videos and external tables of data and information prepared by the ITRC PFAS Team.

The PFAS Team was led by: Bob Mueller, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Ginny Yingling, Minnesota Department of Health.

The team leaders were assisted by Program Advisors: Lesley Hay Wilson and Jim Rocco of Sage Risk Solutions LLC. In addition, Josh Criss of GDIT provided video support for the training video modules. Tadbir Singh, ITRC/ECOS Program Associate provided support to the team.

During the development of the fact sheets, technical and regulatory guidance document, external tables and training videos the team received many comments and reviews from experts across U.S. EPA, U.S. DOD and U.S. DOE, state agencies, academic institutions, industry and consulting. This input was invaluable to the development of these ITRC products. The team greatly appreciates those who offered advice, suggestions, reviews and comments.

Specifically, the team wishes to thank and recognize the efforts and important contributions of the team members.

State and Local Government


John Abernathy
SC DHEC

Daniel Arthur
Alabama Department of Environmental Management

Heather Barbare
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Sara Benovic
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

Jeff Biggs
City of Tucson Water Department

Rachel Blomberg
CDPHE

Robyne Bridgman
Virginia Dept. of Environmental Quality

Christine P. Brown
Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC)

Robert Burgess
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

Sandeep Burman
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Bonnie Buthker
Ohio EPA/ASTSWMO

Sandra Caldwell
Department of Ecology

Jill Clark
Georgia Environmental Protection Division

Jessika Cohen
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Hoa Dao
Department of Environmental Protection, Pennsylvania

Robert Delaney
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

Amy Doherty
NHDES

Mark Elliott
MPCA

Chris Evans
Maine Department of Environmental Protection

Kimberly Gettmann
Cal EPA/ DTSC

Helen Goeden
Minnesota Department of Health

Sandra Goodrow
NJDEP

Stephanie Gordon
Delaware DNREC

Kristi Herzer
State of Vermont DEC

Rebecca Higgins
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Samuel Iwenofu
Washington State Department of Ecology

Ricardo Jaimes
DOEE Government of the District of Columbia

Walsta Jean-Baptiste
Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Yujie Jin
Department of Toxic Substances Engineering

Jason Johnson
NY DEC

Julie Kadrie
Minnesota Dept of Health

Brandon Kernen
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services

Annalisa Kihara
CA State Water Resources Control Board

Anne Knapp
WA State Dept. of Ecology

Lisa Kowalczyk
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

Gary Krueger
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Gladys Liehr
Florida Department of Health

Gail Lipfert
Maine Department of Environmental Protection

Tim Lockrem
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Kevin Lund
Michigan DEQ

Alexander MacDonald
Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Region

Kerri Malinowski
Maine Department of Environmental Protection

Craig Manahan
WA State Dept. of Ecology

Vivek Mathrani
CA DTSC

Lawrence Matson
Delaware DNREC

Justin Meredith
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation- Division of Remediation

Sandra Mort
NC DEQ

Steve Nelson
City of Austin, Texas

Cherrie Nelson
Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality

Mary Helen
Niemann TX RR Commission

Marjorie Norman
City of San Antonio

Christine Osborne
Utah DEQ

Sara Pearson
Michigan DEQ

Kerry Pflugh
NJ DEP

Mallory Pinkowski
DNREC

Shannon Pociu
CT Dept. of Energy & Environmental Protection

Gloria Post
NJDEP

Ron Poustchi
NJDEP

Matthew Revel
ADEM

Charles Reyes
ASTSWMO

Kristy Richardson
CO DPHE

Patrik Sartz
Alaska Dept of Environmental Conservation

Kate Emma Schlosser
NH Department of Environmental Services

Chuck Schwer
Vermont DEC

Michael Sexton
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality

Monica Sheets
CDPHE

Kathryn Shepard Morris
Montana DEQ

Clifford Shierk
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Cheryl Sinclair
PA Department of Environmental Protection

Tadbir Singh
ITRC/ECOS

Leah Smith
FDEP

Matt Smith
Orange County Sanitation District

Sandra Snyder
SCDHEC

Richard Spiese
Vermont Waste Management Division

Brie Sterling
PA DEP

Kara Steward
WA State Dept. of Ecology

Christina Stringer
New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission

Brock Tabor
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

Tom Trainor
Wisconsin DNR

Lanita Walker
City of Tallahassee

Thomas Wallace
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality

Jamie Wallerstedt
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Li Wang
CA DTSC

Jeff Wenzel
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

Tracie White
Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment

Ken Zarker
Washington State Department of Ecology Pollution Prevention & Regulatory Assistance Section

 

Federal Government


Hunter Anderson
US DOD AFCEC

Timothy Applema
US DOD NAVFAC EXWC

David Asiello
US DOD Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Sustainment)

Caroline Baier-Anderson
USEPA/OLEM/FFRRO

Paul Beam
US DOE HQ EM 4.12, Groundwater and Soil Remediation

Sandip Chattopadhyay
USEPA/ORD

Mary Cooke
USEPA/FFRRO

Jed Costanza
USEPA OSTRI/TIFSD

Anthony Danko
US DOD NAVFAC EXWC

Ramona Darlington Iery
US DOD NAVFAC EXWC

Emily Fabricatore
US DOE Environmental Management

Linda Fiedler
USEPA OSRTI

Melissa Forrest
US DOD NMCPHC

Christopher Griggs
US Army Engineer Research and Development Center

Pamela Hamlett
US Air Force

Paul Hatzinger
SERDP-ESTCP

Hannah Holsinger
USEPA

Thomas Imbrigiotta
USGS (retired)

Christopher Impellitteri
USEPA ORD

David Katz
USEPA Atlantic Ecology Division

Patsy Kerr
US DOD NMCPHC

John Kornuc
US DOD NAVFAC EXWC

Johnsie Lang
USEPA ORD–ORISE

Andrea Lehn
US DOD SAF/IE

Kendra Leibman
US DOD Navy

David Liu
NASA

Cornell Long
US Air Force

Michelle Lordemann
US Army Corps of Engineers

Yvette Lowney
SERDP-ESTCP

Virginia Makale
US DOD Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest

Andy Martin
US Army Engineer Research and Development Center

Lisa Matthews
USEPA Office of Research and Development

Anita Meyer
US Army Corps of Engineers

Beth Moore
US DOE EM-4.31, Office of Regulatory Compliance

Deborah Morefield
US DOD Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Environment)

Gary Newhart
USEPA-ERT

T. Nicole Nieves
US Army Corps of Engineers

Bonnie Packer
US DOD ARNG

Cara Patton
SERDP-ESTCP

Ron Pinkoski
US Coast Guard

Jessica Reiner
NIST

Mark Rothas
US Army Corps of Engineers

Andrea Sansom
US Army Corps of Engineers

James Smith
US DOD NMCPHC

Sharon Stone
US DOD AFCEC/CZO

Hans Stroo
SERDP-ESTCP (retired)

James Tarr
US DOD NAVFAC

Wendy Thomi
USEPA Office of Land and Emergency Management

Hilary Thornton
USEPA R4 Superfund

Janice Willey
US DOD NAVSEA

 

Emeritus, Public and Tribal Stakeholders


Richard Aho
retired

Doris Cellarius
Sierra Club

Edward (Ted) Emmett
University of Pennsylvania

David Hofmann
Cherokee Nation

Jeffrey Kuhn
retired

Peter Strauss
PM Strauss & Associates

Eric Uram
Sierra Club

 
 
 

Academia


David Bond
Bennington College

Daniela Castañeda
University of Colorado at Boulder

Michelle Crimi
Clarkson University

Chadi El Mohtar
The University of Texas at Austin

Jennifer Field
Oregon State University

Jennifer Guelfo
Texas Tech University

Megan Hart
University of Missouri Kansas City

Christopher Higgins
Colorado School of Mines

Eric Nuttall
University of New Mexico

Matt Reeves
Western Michigan Univ.

Timothy Schroeder
Bennington College

Mark Widdowson
Virginia Tech

Paul Yaroschak
Water & Environmental Technology Center, Temple University

 

 

Industry Affiliates


Stewart Abrams
Langan Engineering & Environmental Services

David Adamson
GSI Environmental Inc.

Jennifer Adler
Haley & Aldrich

Hannah Albertus-Benham
Wood PLC

Ryan Andersen
LANGAN

Janet Anderson
GSI Environmental Inc.

Matthew Barvenik
GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.

Saamih Bashir
Wood PLC

Buddy Bealer
Shell

Melissa Beauchemin
Kennedy/Jenks Consultants

John Berry
ECT2

Amanda Bess
Chevron

Birgitta Beuthe
BP

Dorin Bogdan
AECOM

Francis Boodoo
Purolite

Andrew Borden
AECOM

Jenalle Brewer
Calgon Carbon Corporation

Steven Brown
The Dow Chemical Company

Cristin Bruce
Shell

Dan Bryant
Woodard & Curran

Bob Buck
Chemours

Karla Buechler
TestAmerica Laboratories, Inc.

Scott Burkey
Shell

Stuart Cagen
Shell

Barbara Campany
GHD

Paul Caprio
EA Engineering

Grant Carey
Porewater Solutions

David Carlson
Enterprise Environmental Advisors

Corey Carpenter
EKI Environment & Water, Inc.

Gwendoline Caviness
Exponent

Dora Chiang
CDM Smith

Sabina Chowdhury
BAH

Steve Clough
Haley & Aldrich (retired)

John Collins
AquaBlok

Jason Conder
Geosyntec Consultants

Pete Conwell
Shell

Eliot Cooper
Cascade

Jeff Cornell
Tehama LLC

Thomas Cortina
Cortina Environmental Consulting

Rick Cramer
Burns & McDonnell Engineering

Kavitha Dasu
Battelle

Rula Deeb
Geosyntec Consultants

Todd DeJournett
Geosyntec

Elizabeth Denly
TRC

Nicholas DeRose
Langan Engineering & Environmental Services

Richard Desrosiers
GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.

Erica DiFilippo
S.S. Papadopulos & Associates, Inc.

William DiGuiseppi
Jacobs

Thomas Dunder
TRC

Scott Dwyer
Kleinfelder

Richard Evans
GES, Inc

David Favero
RACER Properties LLC

Tony Finding
BSTI

Stephanie Fiorenza
BP

Eric Forrester
Calgon Carbon Corporation

Cheryl Fountain
Tetra Tech

Justin Gal
Amec Foster Wheeler

Stephen Geiger
ERM

Bob Gensemer
GEI Consultants, Inc.

Arianne Godwin
Pinyon Environmental, Inc

Jessica Goin
Anchor QEA, LLC

Marat Goldenberg
Burns & McDonnell

Sean Gormley
Wood PLC

Heather Gosack
Apex Companies, LLC

Scott Grieco
Jacobs

Daniel Griffiths
Parsons Corporation

Karen Gruebel
EKI Environment & Water

Chris Gurr
CDM Smith

Adam Hackenberg
Langan Engineering & Environmental Services

Nathan Hagelin
Wood PLC

Jeffrey Hale
Parsons Corporation

Linda Hall
GSI Environmental Inc.

Kris Hallinger
ERM

Ruth Hammervold
Brown and Caldwell

Melissa Harclerode
CDM Smith

Paul Hare
OBG

Ivy Harvey
EA Engineering, Science, Technology, Inc., PBC

Elisabeth Hawley
Geosyntec

Ed Hawthorne
Shell

Ziqi He HSW
Engineering

Jennifer Heath
Heath Toxicology

Nanda Hermes
ERM

Jeffrey Holden
GEI Consultants, Inc.

Rebecca Hollender
TRC

Christopher Hook
Tetra Tech, Inc.

Chuck Hornaday
Vadose Remediation Technologies

Peggy Horst
W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

Erika Houtz
Arcadis

Brian Hoye
Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company, Inc

Jane Huber
Eurofins

Ryan Hultgren
Kennedy/Jenks

Gary Hunt
TRC

Craig Hutchings
Integral Consulting Inc.

Antone Jain
EKI Environment & Water

Thomas M. Johnson
Thomas Johnson Associates

Daniel Jones
AECOM

Purshotam Juriasingani
Tetra Tech, Inc.

Lisa Kammer
Weston Solutions, Inc.

Saroj Kandel
Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc.

William Kerfoot
Kerfoot Technologies, Inc.

Trent Key
ExxonMobil

Eric Klinker
DuPont

Mat Knutson
Terracon

Stephen Koenigsberg
Civil and Environmental Consultants

Stephen Korzeniowski
BEC

Ronald Kotun
Tetra Tech

Matt Kraus
Tetra Tech

Yasemin Kunukcu
TRC

Matthew Lahvis
Shell

Heather Lanza
GHD

Laurie LaPat-Polasko
Ramboll Environ

Sarah LaRoe
Anchor QEA, LLC

Steven LaRosa
Weston & Sampson

Maureen Leahy
Environmental Resources Management

Nigel Lewis
HSW Engineering, Inc.

Shangtao Liang
AECOM

Jerry Lisiecki
Clean Harbors Environmental Services

Anne Lockard
Heritage Environmental Services

Kevin Long
Terraphase Engineering, Inc.

Heather Lutz
Geosyntec Consultants

Tamzen Macbeth
CDM Smith

Sriram Madabhushi
BAH

Andrew Madison
Golder Associates, Ltd.

Maria Magilton
EA Engineering, Science and Technology

Martha Maier
Vista Analytical Laboratory

Stefano Marconetto
Golder Associates, Ltd.

Frank Marine
Texas Molecular

Matt Matteson
Wood PLC

Chris McCarthy
Jacobs

Katrina McCullough
GHD

Lisa McIntosh
Woodard & Curran

Patricia McIsaac
TestAmerica Laboratories, Inc.

Jason McNew
EA Engineering, Science & Technology

Daniel Medina
AECOM

Dogus Meric
Geosyntec Consultants

Michael Mobile
GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.

Joe Montello
Republic Services, Inc.

Rebecca Mora
AECOM

Teri Myers
CDM Smith

Jonathan Naile
Shell

Peter Nangeroni
Woodard & Curran

Charles Neslund
Eurofins

Hilary Nevis
Amec Foster Wheeler

John Newsted
OBG Company

Eric Nichols
Substrata LLC

Mark Nielsen
Ramboll

Ashley Nifong
GEL Labs

Mitchell Olson
Trihydro Corporation

Jeff Orient
Tetra Tech

Fernanda Paes
Wilson Fishbeck

Ioana Petrisor
ToxStrategies

Jenny Phillips
TRC

Jeffrey Pintenich
Brown and Caldwell

Les Porterfield
TEA, Inc.

Fred Price
APMI

Bob Pullano
GEL Laboratories

Joseph Quinnan
Arcadis

Stephen Rembish
Parsons Corporation

Cynthia Rhode
GHD

William Rish
ToxStrategies, Inc.

Christopher Ritchie
Ramboll

Harrison Roakes
Sanborn, Head & Associates, Inc.

Nancy Rothman
New Environmental Horizons, Inc.

Samantha Saalfield
EA Engineering

John Santacroce
Parsons Corporation

Nicholas Santella
BSTI

Christopher Schaupp
Neptune & Company

Dan Schneider
Terracon

Ron Schoff
Phoenix Pure Holdings LLC

Barrie Selcoe
Jacobs

Joe Seracuse
Brown and Caldwell

Michael Sieczkowski
JRW Bioremediation

David Silbaugh
Silbaugh Hydrogeological Svcs

Cannon Silver
CDM Smith

Lizanne Simmons
Kleinfelder

Brent Smith
Civil & Environmental Consultants

Mike Solt
Langan Engineering & Environmental Services

Joseph Sposato
Pinyon Environmental, Inc

Kendall St. Ange
GEI Consultants, Inc.

Brent Stafford
Shell

Jamie Suski
EA Engineering

Ward Swanson
Barr Engineering Co.

Bob Symons
Eurofins Environment Testing, Australia

Ryan Thomas
GHD

Shalene Thomas
Wood PLC

Roy Thun
GHD

Derek Tomlinson
GEI Consultants, Inc.

Adam Tressler
ERM

Grant Trigger
RACER Properties LLC

Laura Trozzolo
TRC

Edward (Ted) Tyler
Kleinfelder

Brad Varhol
EON Products

Usha Vedagiri
Wood PLC

Chris Voci
Terraphase Engineering, Inc.

Lisa Voyce
HDR

Claudia Walecka-Hutchison
Dow, Inc.

Rick Wice
Battelle Memorial Institute

Michael Wilken
The Dow Chemical Company

Jason Wilkinson
Ramboll Environ

Scott Wilson
Regenesis

David Woodward
AMEC Foster Wheeler

Sandra Yi-Fuller
Shell

Rachel Zajac-Fay
Jacobs

Michael Zelenka
ExxonMobil

Stephen Zemba
Sanborn, Head & Associates, Inc.

Jennifer Zorinsky
AECOM

Barry Zvibleman
Onion Enterprises PFOS-PFOA Treatment

 
 
 
 

International Team Members


Frank Berger
AECOM

Sarah Gewurtz
Environment and Climate Change Canada

Andrew Mitchell
Department of Defence (Australia)

Niall Ramsden
LASTFIRE

Updated April 14, 2020.

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