Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Water: An Overview and Related WRF Research

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1 Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Water: An Overview and Related WRF Research Kenan Ozekin Senior Research Manager Alice Fulmer Regional Liaison No part of this presentation may be copied, reproduced, or otherwise utilized without permission.

2 Outline Background Regulations Occurrence WRF Research Conclusions

3 PFAS in the Headlines

4 PFAS in the Headlines

5 What are PFAS? Poly and Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of man-made chemicals. The carbon-fluorine bond is the shortest and strongest chemical bond in nature Persistent and resistant to degradation PFAS family=thousands of diverse compounds PFAS are found in people, wildlife and fish all over the world. Some PFAS can stay in people s bodies a long time. Some PFAS do not break down easily in the environment.

6 Uses of PFAS Commercial and consumer products containing PFAS were first introduced in the 1950s PFAS have been used for many years to make products that resist heat, stains, grease and water

7 Human Exposure to PFAS goods Inhalation ingestion (dust/fibre) breast milk cord blood solids AFFF manufacturer waste liquids Landfill leachate (<10,000 ng/l) 1 wastewater treatment Biosolids (<3,000 ng/g) 2 Effluents AFFF-impacted groundwater = up to mg/l (<100 ng/l) 3 Adapted from Oliaei 2013, Environ Pollut Res 1 Allred et al J Chrom; 2 Schultz et al. 2006; Higgins ES&T Schultz et al a&b ES&T; 4 Ahrens et al. Chemosphere 2015 WRF Project 4322 Webcast AFFF-impacted surface water ~ 100s ng/l 4

8 Biomonitoring NHANES PFAS Data * *No serum available in ameasured as isomers

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10 History of PFAS 1950s M began producing PFOS based compunds 1960s FDA approved use in food packaging 2000s M phased out PFOS production M phased out PFOA production 2010 to Present All manufacturers phased out PFOA production

11 Potential Health Effects Further Research Needed Animals Increased liver weight (critical effect) Spleen, thymus, and developmental Cancer liver, testis, pancreas Humans Possible changes in growth, learning and behavior Decreased fertility Increased cholesterol Immune effects Cancer kidney, bladder, testicular, prostate

12 Regulations No Federal Regulations Health Advisories EPA Provisional Health Advisory, 2009 Short-term adverse health effects PFOS: 200 ppt, PFOA: 400 ppt EPA Health Advisory, 2016 Long-term adverse health effects PFOS: 70 ppt, PFOA: 70 ppt, PFOS + PFOA: 70 ppt EPA's health advisories are non-enforceable and non-regulatory and provide technical information to states agencies and other public health officials on health effects, analytical methodologies, and treatment technologies associated with drinking water contamination.

13 Regulations Several states have passed groundwater quality regulations for PFOA. In West Virginia and Ohio, residents must be provided with alternative drinking water when PFOA levels exceed 70 ppt. Minnesota has adopted a Chronic Health Risk Limit of 300 ppt for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water. New Jersey has established a preliminary healthbased guidance of 40 ppt for PFOA in drinking water.

14 PFAS Occurrence Source: Hu XC et al., Environmental Science & Technology Letters

15 Water Research Foundation PFAS Research No part of this presentation may be copied, reproduced, or otherwise utilized without permission.

16 WRF PFAS Research

17 Summary of PFAS removals for various treatment processes Source WRF Project 4322 Final Report

18 WRF Current Research New Focus Area titled Management, analysis, removal, fate and transport of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water Objectives Analysis of emerging and unidentified PFAS Vulnerability of waters to PFAS and identification of sources and hotspots Management alternatives for PFAS Behavior, fate, and transport of PFAS in treatment Treatment and removal of PFAS

19 Potential FA Projects Investigation of water quality impacts on removal of PFAS by GAC and IX Investigation of PFAS treatment in surface water Investigation of treatment alternatives for short-chain PFAS Fate and transport of PFAS in wastewater treatment and biosolids Oxidation of PFAS precursors and PFAS formation Qualitative structure activity relationships for predicting removal of new and emerging PFAS Testing and development of innovative treatment technologies for PFAS removal Analytical method development to detect emerging and currently unidentified PFAS Investigation of alternative management strategies to prevent PFAS from entering drinking water supplies (e.g., policies, pre-treatment of point-sources) Occurrence of hot spots and major sources of PFAS

20 New RFP Title - Investigation of Treatment Alternatives for Short-Chain Poly and Perfluoroalkyl Substances Objectives The objective of this project is to investigate treatment alternatives for short-chain PFASs in drinking water sources. Approach Testing of variety of technologies Using both surface and groundwater sources Testing a range of operating conditions

21 New DOD Project Title - Evaluation and Life Cycle Comparison of Ex-Situ Treatment Technologies for Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in Groundwater Lead Organization: The Water Research Foundation (PI: Alice Fulmer) Research Team: Colorado School of Mines (Chris Bellona, Chris Higgins), North Carolina State University (Detlef Knappe), University of Colorado Boulder (Sherri Cook), CDM Smith (Charles Schaefer) It is under contract

22 Project Objectives To compare established & emerging PFAS treatment approaches on a life-cycle assessment (LCA) and costing (LCC) basis, and to provide a framework for selection of effective treatment technologies Synthesis and generation of data to assess PFAS treatment using LCA & LCC using various treatment scenarios and metrics Comprehensive side-by-side comparison of competing technologies for removal and/or destruction of a variety of PFASs in groundwater Established treatment technologies include granular activated carbon (GAC), ion exchange (IX), GAC followed by IX, and nanofiltration or reverse osmosis (NF/RO) Emerging treatment technology is superfine powdered activated carbon (spac) with separation by ceramic microfiltration (MF) with possible inclusion of destructive technologies (i.e., electrochemical, non-thermal plasma and UV-sensitized treatment processes) for treatment of residuals (i.e., IX regenerant, RO/NF concentrate) Development of a treatment technology decision support tool based on data & stakeholder input

23 Integration of Project Tasks to Support Objectives Task 1 Experimental Design and Data Needs Task 1a Database and Framework Development Task 1b Expert Panel Feedback Task 2 Lab-Scale Treatability Study Task 2a Work Plan and System Design Task 2b Lab-Scale Experimentation Task 3 Comprehensive Evaluation of PFAS Treatment Approaches Task 3a Technology Characterization and Sub- Model Creation Task 3b Life Cycle Metrics Analysis Task 3c Decision Support Tool Task 4 Technology Transition Task 4a Workshop Task 4b Outreach Task 5 Management and Reporting

24 Conclusions PFAAs are extremely persistent and bioaccumulative. Some are highly water soluble thus a major pathway for human exposure is the consumption of contaminated drinking water. Ineffective water treatment techniques: Ferric or alum coagulation Granular filtration, microfiltration, ultrafiltration Aeration/oxidation: permanganate, ultraviolet/hydrogen peroxide Disinfection: ozone, chlorine dioxide, chlorine, and chloramines Anion exchange and granular activated carbon treatment preferably removed longer-chain PFAAs and the PFSAs compared to the PFCAs. Reverse osmosis and nanofiltration demonstrated significant removal for all the PFAAs.