EPA Method Development Update: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) (Seattle Washington)
Citation:
Mills, M. AND C. Impellitteri. EPA Method Development Update: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) (Seattle Washington). EPA Region 10 States Environment and Health Meeting, Seattle, Washington, October 30, 2019.
Impact/Purpose:
Inform DOD and EPA partners on the progress of PFAS methods development efforts at EPA
Description:
Background/Objectives. Poly and perfluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS) are increasingly measured at sites where aqueous film forming foams (AFFF) were used in fire suppression systems, fire training activities, and responding to crashes. AFFF products contain a variety of chemicals including perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), and PFAA precursors, chemicals which may oxidize to form PFAAs. Some of these precursor chemicals are present to create the desired properties of the product while other chemicals are residuals from the manufacturing and formulation process. In 2016, PFAS site characterization was conducted at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson in Anchorage, AK to evaluate the occurrence of PFAS. During these activities, the US Environmental Protection Agency collected replicate water samples at several locations and analyzed them for 18 PFAAs and 12 PFAA precursors. This sampling effort had three objectives: 1, evaluate the analytical method on samples from a new site; 2, evaluate variability in replicate samples; and 3, characterize when PFAA precursors were likely to be present.