Proactive Assessment Framework for Environmental Impacts of PFAS Replacement Chemicals
Citation:
Ibrahim, Mohamed Ateia. Proactive Assessment Framework for Environmental Impacts of PFAS Replacement Chemicals . Presented at PFAS Science Call with ECOS and ASTHO, Cincinnati, OH, April 24, 2023.
Impact/Purpose:
2023 Bimonthly PFAS Science Calls (ASTHO, ECOS and EPA) The bimonthly PFAS Science Calls are open to EPA and our state partners at the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) to discuss evolving PFAS Science. Topics include analytical methods, human health and toxicity, site characterization, remediation, treatment and more.
Description:
New chemical formulations are being tested to replace PFAS-containing fire-fighting foams in several applications, including systems designed to protect aviation fuels, weapons, chemical tankers, and large petroleum tanks. The current efforts are focused on identifying and synthesizing new surfactant molecules and additives that do not contain perfluorinated chains but display the desired fire-fighting properties. If the same fire-extinguishing properties could be achieved, the new chemical formulations are expected to be as persistent and mobile if released to the environment as their fluorinated counterparts. Investigating the impacts of novel PFAS-free foams on environmental and human health is necessary to ensure they are safer than PFAS foams and prevent a potential global widespread contamination in the future. This talk will highlight the proactive approaches that we are proposing to allow making evidence-based decisions regarding the safe implementation of the new alternative chemicals, which will also save millions of dollars of remediation costs in case of replacing PFAS with ‘new’ persistent and toxic chemicals.