Grantee Research Project Results
PFAS UNITED: Poly - and Perfluoroalkyl Substances - U.S.National Investigation of Transport & Exposure from Drinking Water and Diet
EPA Grant Number: R839482Title: PFAS UNITED: Poly - and Perfluoroalkyl Substances - U.S.National Investigation of Transport & Exposure from Drinking Water and Diet
Investigators: Higgins, Christopher , Illangasekare, Tissa , Knappe, Detlef , Hoppin, Jane , Stapleton, Heather , Carignan, Courtney , Adgate, John L.
Current Investigators: Higgins, Christopher , Illangasekare, Tissa , Adgate, John L. , Stapleton, Heather , Knappe, Detlef , Hoppin, Jane , Carignan, Courtney
Institution: Colorado School of Mines , North Carolina State University , University of Colorado at Denver , Duke University , Michigan State University
Current Institution: Colorado School of Mines , Duke University , Michigan State University , University of Colorado at Denver , North Carolina State University
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: May 1, 2019 through April 30, 2022 (Extended to March 31, 2024)
Project Amount: $1,964,375
RFA: National Priorities: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (2018) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration , Climate Change , Water , Water Quality
Description:
Develop actionable data on the fate, transport, bioaccumulation, and exposure of a diverse suite of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in nationally representative PFAS-impacted communities to enable reductions in total PFAS exposure. We believe key data on fate, transport, bioaccumulation, and exposure are currently lacking for many PFASs, and we aim to develop such data. We hypothesize that: 1) Partition coefficients for (de)sorption can be predicted from PFAS retention during liquid chromatography (LC); 2) Vadose zone transport is dictated by PFAS properties and the air-water interfacial area; 3) Plant uptake of overlooked PFASs can be predicted from LC retention; 4) PFAS levels in local food in PFAS-impacted areas are elevated; 5) Differences in serum PFAS reflect differences in drinking water exposure, whereas similarities are consistent with indoor environment exposure; and 6) After drinking water, the primary contributors to exposure will be local food, followed by the indoor environment.
Approach:
Address key subsurface transport and bioaccumulation data gaps for overlooked PFASs and conduct a detailed exposure assessment in a new MI cohort and compare those results to findings from the PFAS-impacted communities in CO and NC. Coupling the exposure monitoring and assessment from the new MI cohort with biomonitoring and source fingerprinting in two existing cohorts will enable meaningful extrapolation of our findings to other PFAS-impacted communities. Each cohort has a distinct putative PFAS source, and similarities and differences in exposure and chemical fingerprints in environmental media and serum will be evaluated. The data generated will enable risk managers to make informed decisions and reduce total PFAS exposure uncertainties. An Advisory Board composed of PFAS experts, state decision makers, and PFAS-impacted community stakeholders will provide critical input into the project.
Expected Results:
A series of presentations and peer-reviewed manuscripts that will detail the scientific findings of each tested hypothesis. We expect to enable state and local risk managers to: 1) quantitatively predict subsurface transport of overlooked PFASs; 2) predict accumulation of overlooked PFASs in foods from soil or water; and 3) assess interventions to reduce total human PFAS exposure. The findings will be used to develop a guidance for decision makers.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 18 publications for this projectJournal Articles:
Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 9 journal articles for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
media, groundwater, chemicals, hydrologyProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.