(321a) Overview of per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Research at the US Environmental Protection Agency

Per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of anthropogenic organic compounds that contain multiple CF₂ groups. The chemistry of the compounds makes them extremely useful in a wide range of chemical applications, and they have found use in a numerous consumer and industrial products. Another challenge with PFAS is that these CF₂ groups also make them problematic environmentally. These compounds are recalcitrant, difficult to break down, so they persistent in the environment. They impact human health and are ecological toxicants. Furthermore, the wide range of PFAS compounds complicates analytical methods to detect and characterize their presence in the environment. Lastly, recovery and destruction of these compound from the environment is difficult, making treatment of PFAS containing waste streams and remediation of contaminated sites difficult. This presentation will provide an overview of USEPA activities in the detection, characterization, treatment, and remediation of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).