Grantee Research Project Results
2021 Progress Report: Building Resilience to PFAS Exposure on Vulnerable Coastal Communities Prone to Extreme Weather Floods: Brevard County FL as a Case Study
EPA Grant Number: R840045Title: Building Resilience to PFAS Exposure on Vulnerable Coastal Communities Prone to Extreme Weather Floods: Brevard County FL as a Case Study
Investigators: Quiñones, Katherine Deliz , Bonzongo, Jean-Claude J. , Jutla, Antarpreet , Bowden, John , Coker, Eric S
Current Investigators: Quiñones, Katherine Deliz
Institution: University of Florida
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: August 1, 2020 through July 31, 2023 (Extended to July 31, 2025)
Project Period Covered by this Report: August 1, 2020 through July 31,2021
Project Amount: $798,193
RFA: Contaminated Sites, Natural Disasters, Changing Environmental Conditions and Vulnerable Communities: Research to Build Resilience (2019) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Endocrine Disruptors , Safer Chemicals , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
The main goal of this project is to work with vulnerable communities in Brevard and Duval County Florida to better understand the diversity, fate, transport, and exposure pathways of PFAS after flooding events, through Community-Engaged Research (CEnR), systematic environmental sampling, laboratory experiments, and a risk framework model to mitigate community exposure, and increase communities’ resilience to environmental pollution.
Specific objectives are,
Objective 1 : Identify exposure pathways for PFAS in Brevard County vulnerable communities
Objective 2 : Characterize diversity and concentration ranges of PFAS in environmental and biological media before and immediately after a flooding event
Objective 3 : Understand the effect of major flood events on the mobility and risk exposure of PFAS with the goal to build community resilience.
Progress Summary:
Community Engagement Activities: During the first year of the project the focus of the community engagement (CE) involved (1) socio-environmental vulnerability mapping; (2) facilitation of community meetings in collaboration with community partners; (3) facilitation of a Citizen Science program in Brevard County; (4) facilitation of a Youth Environmental Health Literacy (EHL) Program in Jacksonville; and (5) establishment of new community partnerships. Outreach, training and CEnR activities increased participation and capacity of communities.
Field and Laboratory Activities: During the first year of this project, we completed tasks associated with Objectives 1 and 2 of the proposed research. The University of Florida (UF) team in collaboration with Fight for Zero (FFZ) and Brevard County Citizen Scientists have collected samples of surface water (n=156), drinking water (n=12), sediments (n=28), soil (n=38), and fish (n=77 fish fillet; n=69 fish liver). In addition, we have performed surface water sampling pre, during and post storm events (n=62). Thus far, we have collected 442 samples in total.
While we expected tasks associated with objective 3-1 to start in year 1, impacts from Covid-19 have delayed our schedule. Further delays were also the result of low stock of required supplies and reagents to perform extractions of samples for PFAS and metals analyses. As a result, the laboratory determinations of model input parameters, including batch and column sorption experiments, originally scheduled to start on Q2 of year 1, have been rescheduled and are on -track to start on year 2.
Future Activities:
In year 2 of the project, we will continue environmental sampling and fish biomonitoring in collaboration with our community partners FFZ and ORCA (Ocean Research & Conservation Association, Inc.). Researchers at UF will continue sample processing, analysis, and data integration. In addition, we will start tasks related to Objective 3-1 including batch and column sorption laboratory experiments. Future CE activities will be dedicated towards dissemination of results to community members (mid-year community conference and end of year conference), as well as identifying and engaging with stakeholders in Brevard and Jacksonville. In addition, youth from the EHL program will engage in data dissemination efforts and developing a year-2 research project that investigates combined contamination and flood risk for community spaces (e.g., public parks).
Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 10 publications | 10 publications in selected types | All 10 journal articles |
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Griffin E, Aristizabal-Henao J, Timshina A, Ditz J, Camacho C, Da Silva B, Coker E, Wuinones K, Aufmuth J, Bowden J. Assessment of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances PFAS in the Indian River Lagoon and Atlantic coast of Brevard County, FL, reveals distinct spatial clusters. CHEMOSPHERE 2022;301(134478). |
R840045 (2021) |
Exit Exit |
Supplemental Keywords:
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), Community Engaged Research (CEnR), fate and transport, water quality, Brevard County Florida, flooding, pollutant exposure, public healthRelevant Websites:
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe 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.