Grantee Research Project Results
Final 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 , 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 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: Drinking Water , Water Quality , Human Health , Water , PFAS Treatment
Objective:
The overarching goal of this project was 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?
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
Objective 1: Develop a comprehensive relational database for PFAS contamination at inactive and active landfills in NYS.
Accomplished/Completed: Data for 227 inactive landfills (exceeding our original goal of 150) and 28 active landfills were incorporated into a relational database. Data for 17 inactive hazardous waste site landfills were incorporated into the relational database and preliminary assessments were initiated. The attribute data gap analysis was completed for both the inactive and active landfill databases and for the inactive hazardous waste site landfills. The comprehensive relational database enabled the comparison of: [1] landfill attributes to PFAS detections and net PFAS concentrations (downgradient vs. upgradient); [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: The data gap analysis was completed for the inactive and active landfill datasets and for the inactive hazardous waste site landfills. Limitations of the data were identified and strategies on how to address them and leverage the existing data streams were considered. A PFAS target analyte list (TAL) was finalized, which includes a total of 44 PFAS (exceeding the original goal of 35). Samples were collected from landfills previously identified to contain high concentrations of PFAS or based on historical sites uses, including groundwater and leachate samples from one inactive landfill and leachate samples from one landfill with inactive and active portions and one active landfill. These samples were used by Wadsworth to complete the targeted analysis for the 44 PFAS on the TAL using liquid chromatography dual mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) by modifying EPA Method 533. Wadsworth also developed a more sensitive, non-targeted screening method using high resolution orbitrap mass spectrometry and provided confirmatory analysis for the TAL, along with untargeted screening for additional PFAS and degradation products. Wadsworth also constructed a PFAS-specific library containing the exact masses of known PFAS compounds and those hypothesized to be present (e.g., various fluorotelomer acids, chorine-, phosphor- and aryl-substituted poly- and perfluoro-compounds and per-fluoroalcohols). A manuscript providing a synoptic overview for the inactive landfills, comparing landfill attributes and PFAS concentrations, was developed and is undergoing internal and stakeholder review, after which it will be finalized and submitted for publication.
Objective 3: Identify predictors of PFAS contamination and release from landfills based upon regression models that analyze landfill attributes and PFAS concentrations.
Accomplished/Completed: Developed a comprehensive list of predictors of PFAS contamination (e.g., landfill/well/sample attributes, soil, hydrogeology, and alternative sources) at inactive landfills. Important predictors were identified based on the random forest.
Objective 4: Investigate variation and patterns in PFAS profiles of various environmental media related to landfills. Accomplished/Completed: PFAS profiles were investigated within and among inactive landfills as well as across various waste types. Principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering were used for grouping landfills with statistically distinct PFAS composition profiles. Attributes associated with distinct PFAS composition profiles were also identified.
Objective 5: Perform similar PFAS profiling of additional sources of PFAS environmental contamination.
Accomplished/Completed: A literature review to obtain PFAS profiles of different source categories (wastewater treatment plant effluent, carpeting, consumer products, fire-fighting foam, etc.) was performed but did not identify conclusive PFAS profiles for different source categories.
Journal Articles on this Report : 2 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 3 publications | 2 publications in selected types | All 2 journal articles |
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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) R839610 (Final) |
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Brase RA, Mullin EJ, Spink DC. Legacy and emerging per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances: analytical techniques, environmental fate, and health effects. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2021;22(3):995. |
R839610 (2021) R839610 (2022) R839610 (2023) R839610 (Final) |
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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, DONA
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.
Project Research Results
- 2023 Progress Report
- 2022 Progress Report
- 2021 Progress Report
- 2020 Progress Report
- Original Abstract
2 journal articles for this project