Grantee Research Project Results
2020 Progress Report: Analysis of NYS Landfills as Sources of PFAS Groundwater Contamination
EPA Grant Number: R839610Title: Analysis of NYS Landfills as Sources of PFAS Groundwater Contamination
Investigators: Vooris, Christine , Hsu, Wan-Hsiang , Spink, Davie , Lang, Daniel , Lewis-Michl, Elizabeth , Malone, Kevin , Ginsberg, Gary
Current Investigators: Vooris, Christine , Hsu, Wan-Hsiang , Lang, Daniel , Malone, Kevin , Ginsberg, Gary
Institution: Health Research, Inc. / NYS Dept. of Health
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: September 1, 2019 through August 31, 2022 (Extended to February 29, 2024)
Project Period Covered by this Report: September 1, 2019 through August 31,2020
Project Amount: $900,000
RFA: Practical Methods to Analyze and Treat Emerging Contaminants (PFAS) in Solid Waste, Landfills, Wastewater/Leachates, Soils, and Groundwater to Protect Human Health and the Environment (2018) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: PFAS Treatment , Human Health , Water , Water Quality , Drinking Water
Objective:
The overarching goal of this project is to augment activities being completed under various programs in New York State (NYS) to understand the following: What types and concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are likely to be found in and around landfills? What are the key landfill attributes that contribute to release of PFAS? Can PFAS profiles be used to characterize disposed wastes at landfills (municipal vs. industrial; active vs. inactive) and types of PFAS sources in the environment? What is the importance of this pathway (landfills to groundwater) relative to other pathways in terms of environmental contamination and human exposure?
Progress Summary:
Objective 1: Develop a comprehensive relational database for PFAS contamination at inactive and active landfills in NYS.
Accomplished/Completed: Inactive landfill data (171 sites) and a large portion of active landfill data (25 of 32 sites) have been identified, obtained and compiled into an initial relational database. Inactive landfill attribute information (e.g. materials accepted, size, controls, geology, etc.) was reviewed, additional attribute information (e.g. dates of operation/age, meteorological data) researched and included, and a data gap analysis was initiated. Identification of inactive hazardous waste sites that are landfills has commenced. The initial relational database has enabled the initial comparison of: [1] landfill attributes to PFAS detections; [2] PFAS profiles of inactive and active landfills; and [3] PFAS profiles of inactive landfills and nearby water supply wells.
Objective 2: Identify data gaps and augment landfill database to promote robust statistical analyses.
Accomplished/Completed: Data gaps in the landfill attributes were identified and initial research (i.e. records review) to obtain more detailed landfill attribute data is ongoing. Limitations of the obtained data have been identified and discussions on how to address them and leverage the existing data streams are in progress. Comparison was made between the program-specific PFAS analyte lists (for inactive and active landfills) and the target analyte list (TAL) being developed for this project, which will include up to 35 PFAS compounds. During this work, consideration was also given to the list used by Lang et al. (2017). Due to NYS’s focus on COVID response activities, the collection and analysis of additional leachate and/or groundwater samples, as well as the development of the TAL has been delayed, but both activities are expected to commence early in Year 2. Method validation studies for additional PFAS have been initiated.
Note: Activities associated with the three additional objectives outlined in our grant proposal (Objectives 3, 4 and 5) will be initiated and/or completed in Year 2, as initially established.
Future Activities:
The attribute data gap analysis and research will continue, and this information will be incorporated into the comprehensive relational database. In addition to items 1-3 in Objective 1, the relational database will allow commencement of comparison of PFAS profiles of inactive and active landfills to other PFAS contamination sources (e.g., wastewater treatment plant effluent). We will identify and obtain additional data streams, (i.e., inactive hazardous waste sites, solid waste management and beneficial use programs, WWTP effluent, biosolids, fire-fighting foam, industrial/military releases, etc.) and review literature to obtain PFAS profiles of different source categories (consumer products, foam, etc.). The TAL of 35 PFAS will be developed/finalized. Groundwater and/or leachate samples will be collected from active landfills and from inactive landfill(s) not previously sampled and known to contain specific-waste types and/or elevated PFAS. Sampling of WWTP effluent, land applied biosolids and inactive hazardous waste sites is planned and will be analyzed for targeted and untargeted PFAS. We will draft the general paper-synoptic overview across the three landfill types by comparing landfill attributes, PFAS levels and patterns. The prediction model for PFAS levels using principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering for grouping landfills with statistically distinct PFAS composition profiles will be initiated.
Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
Other project views: | All 3 publications | 2 publications in selected types | All 2 journal articles |
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Type | Citation | ||
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Brase RA, Spink DC. Enhanced sensitivity for the analysis of perfluoroethercarboxylic acids using LC–ESI–MS/MS:effects of probe position, mobile phase additive, and capillary voltage. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 2020;31(10):2124-2132. |
R839610 (2020) R839610 (2021) R839610 (2022) R839610 (2023) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
chemical transport, fluorotelomers, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, perfluorinated chemicals, PFCs, perfluorochemicals, perfluorooctanoic acid, PFOA, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, PFOS, waste management, GenX, DONAProgress 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.