Grantee Research Project Results

2019 Progress Report: PFAS UNITED: Poly - and Perfluoroalkyl Substances - U.S.National Investigation of Transport & Exposure from Drinking Water and Diet

EPA Grant Number: R839482
Title: PFAS UNITED: Poly - and Perfluoroalkyl Substances - U.S.National Investigation of Transport & Exposure from Drinking Water and Diet
Investigators: Higgins, Christopher , Illangasekare, Tissa , Adgate, John L. , Stapleton, Heather , Knappe, Detlef , Hoppin, Jane , Carignan, Courtney , Duckworth, Owen
Current Investigators: Higgins, Christopher , Illangasekare, Tissa , Adgate, John L. , Stapleton, Heather , Knappe, Detlef , Hoppin, Jane , Carignan, Courtney
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 Period Covered by this Report: May 1, 2019 through April 30,2020
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

Objective:

The goal of this study is to develop a comprehensive set of data related to the fate, transport, and bioaccumulation of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and resultant human exposure. This study seeks to fill the data gaps on the fundamental environmental behavior of overlooked PFASs, the uptake into local food sources in impacted communities, and the relevance of that uptake for human exposure to PFASs.

Progress Summary:

At the one year point, we were able to hold one in-person team meeting with all collaborating institutions. We also held a virtual introductory Advisory Board meeting and plan to meet in person with the entire Advisory Board once travel resumes in light of COVID-19. Thus far in the research we have successfully achieved the following:

Obtained and characterized groundwater, to be used in sorption and column experiments, for which we have constructed the columns and performed leak testing
Developed experimental design for greenhouse experiments using collected groundwater
Performed salt tracer analysis of breakthrough curve in preparation of performing PFAS transport column experiments under saturated and unsaturated conditions
Initiated method development for overlooked PFAS extraction from plants and analysis in plant xylem
Designed and tested transpiration stream concentration factor (TSCF) experiments using a plant pressure chamber and conducted preliminary experiments with tomato plants
Initiated Michigan biomonitoring study
Determined three viable receptor method options and a two-step statistical method, principal component analysis-multiple linear regression (PCA-MLR) and completed preliminary analyses with these three methods for the Colorado Cohort serum data

Future Activities:

Conduct experiments to determine kinetics, extent, and reversibility of PFAS sorption to a range of soils

Develop a non-equilibrium solver to incorporate physical and chemical non-equilibrium equations and air-water interfacial sorption
Continue PFAS column transport tests with variable saturation
Complete PFAS extraction method for plants
Conduct greenhouse and TSCF experiments to determine uptake of PFAS from water
Complete PFAS analysis of fruits and vegetables collected in North Carolina and Michigan
Begin recruitment, data, and sample collections for the Michigan biomonitoring study
Compare the models for analyses of the Colorado Cohort water data to inform the results of the serum analyses
Compare the results from differing sources of PFAS exposure (Colorado Cohort vs North Carolina Cohort)
Finalize the food extraction and analysis methods and analyze samples collected in Michigan
Collect ambient samples (indoor air, house dust and wrist bands) for analysis

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 19 publications for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

PFAS, drinking water, food, contaminants, exposure

Relevant Websites:

PFAS UNITEDD Exit

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

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.