&EPA
Per- and Polyfluoro yl Substances (PFAS Research & Development Activities
Andrew Gillespie US EPA Office of Research and Development
New England State Commissioners' Visit to AED
June 19, 2018
Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA
Tier 10
ED 002061 00174278-00001
SEP
Current PFAS Research Activities
*Human Health/Toxicity Analytical Methods * Exposure *Treatment/Remediation Technical Assistance
Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA
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SEPA
Research: Human Health/Toxicity
Problem: Lack of toxicity values for many PFAS compounds
Action: Literature review of published toxicity data for 31 PFAS of interest
Conduct additional assessments and work to address knowledge gaps through computational toxicology and rapid/high-throughput screening
Results: Literature review complete, ~21 PFAS with some in vivo data to support assessment Toxicity assessment underway for GenX, PFBS, + five additional PFAS Computational assays underway for 75 PFAS representative of PFAS chemical space
Impact: States will have PFAS toxicity values to support risk management decisions and risk communication
Tools: EPA Chemistry Dashboard Health and Environmental Research Online (HERO)
Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA
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ED 002061 00174278-00003
SEPA
Research: Analytical Methods
Problem: Lack of standardized/validated analytical methods for many PFAS analytes (especially short chain), and in media other than drinking water
Action: Perform multi-laboratory validations for analytical methods for (1) non-drinking water samples and solids (SW-846 Methods for facility or site investigation and remediation), (2) additional PFAS analytes for drinking water samples, and (3) methods for sampling air stack emissions
Results: Draft SW-846 Direct Injection analytical method external validation study underway Draft SW-846 Isotope Dilution method in review Method development for short-chained PFECAs (GenX, ADONA) in drinking water, for PFAS in estuarine waters, and for PFAS precursors in aqueous and solid matrices underway Pilot test of air emission sampling and analysis methods underway in NH and NC
Impact: Stakeholders will have standard analytical methods for PFAS analytes in different environmental media Tools: EPA Method 537 (drinking water)
SW-846 Compendium (non drinking water and solids)
Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA
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ED 002061 00174278-00004
Research: Exposure
Problem: Lack of knowledge on sources, site-specific concentrations and exposure Action: Develop and test methods to characterize PFAS sources and exposures Results:
Published non-targeted analysis (NTA) methods for qualitatively/semi-quantitatively assessing novel PFAS (including PFAS precursors) in environmental samples
Developing exposure models for identifying PFAS exposure pathways and relative source contribution
Developing and evaluating sampling and site characterization approaches to identify sources and extent of contamination
Impact: Stakeholders will be able to assess potential PFAS sources and exposures, and identify key exposure pathways for risk management Tools: Published methods and models
Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA
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ED 002061 00174278-00005
SEPA
Research: Drinking Water Treatment Performance
Problem: Utilities lack drinking water treatment technology performance data for PFAS removal
Action: Review PFAS performance data from available sources (industry, DoD, academia, international) Test commercially available granular activated carbons (GACs) and ion exchange (IE) resins for effectiveness over a range of PFAS under different water quality conditions Evaluate a range of system sizes - large full-scale utility options to home treatment systems
Results: Update EPA's Drinking Water Treatability Database, a public database for treatment performance data for regulated and unregulated contaminants Use state-of-the-science models to extrapolate existing treatment studies to other conditions
Impact: Utilities will be able to identify effective treatment strategies for removing PFAS from drinking water
Tool: EPA Drinking Water Treatability Database
Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA
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ED 002061 00174278-00006
SEPA
Research: Drinking Water Treatment Cost
Problem: Utilities lack treatment technology cost data for PFAS removal
Action: Gather performance and cost data from available sources (DOD, WRF, industry, etc.) Compare costs and cost models across different entities Update EPA's Unit Cost Models to address PFAS Connect EPA's Drinking Water Treatability Database to EPA's cost models for ease of operation Evaluate tradeoffs between cost and removal of a range of PFASs and mixtures of PFASs
Results: Tools and data to support selection of optimal treatment choice
Impact: Utilities will be able to make informed decisions about cost-effective treatment strategies for removing PFAS from drinking water
Tools: EPA Drinking Water Treatment Technology Unit Cost Models
Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA
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S E R A \ Research: Contaminated Site Remediation
Problem: PFAS-contaminated sites require remediation and clean up to protect human health and the environment
Action:
Characterize sources of PFAS such as fire training and emergency response sites, manufacturing facilities, production facilities, disposal sites
Evaluate treatment technologies for remediating PFAS-impacted soils, waters, and sediments
Develop treatment trains to address complex matrices with co-mingled wastes that may occur with PFAS contamination
Generate performance and cost data with collaborators (DOD, WRF, industry, etc.) to develop models and provide tools to determine optimal treatment choices
Results: Tools, data and guidance regarding cost, efficacy, and implementation for remedy selection and performance monitoring
Impact: Responsible officials will know how to reduce risk of PFAS exposure and effects at
contaminated sites, and to repurpose sites for beneficial use
!(
Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA
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ED 002061 00174278-00008
Research: Wastewater Treatment
Problem: Consumer and industrial use of PFAS-containing products often results in disposal to wastewater, becoming a source of PFAS in the environment
Action: Characterize various waste streams (e.g. municipal, industrial, manufacturing, landfill leachate) contributing to wastewater as sources of PFAS Evaluate efficacy of current and innovative wastewater treatment technologies (e.g. conventional, advanced, centralized, decentralized, pretreatment, water reuse, biosolids) to manage PFAS contamination Evaluate performance and cost data with other entities (WRF, industry, consultants, etc.)
Results: Provide data, tools and guidance to operators on management of PFAS in wastewater, biosolids, wastewater reuse, and pretreatment
Impact: Responsible officials will be able to manage effectively PFAS in wastewater
Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA
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ED 002061 00174278-00009
' , Research: Materials Management
Problem: Lack of knowledge regarding end-of-life management (e.g. landfills, incineration) of PFAS-containing consumer and industrial products
Action:
Characterize various end-of-life disposal streams (e.g. municipal, industrial, manufacturing, landfills, Incinerators, recycled waste streams) contributing PFAS to the environment
Evaluate efficacy of current and advanced waste management technologies (e.g. landfilling, thermal treatment, composting, stabilization) to manage PFAS at end-of-life disposal
Evaluate performance and cost data with other entities (DOD, industry, academia, etc.) to manage these materials and manage PFAS releases to the environment
Results: Provide technologies, data and tools to manage these end of use streams
Impact: Responsible officials will be able to manage effectively end-of-life disposal of PFAS-containing products
Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA
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ED 002061 00174278-00010
Technical Assistance for States, Tribes and Communities
Problem: State, tribes and communities sometimes lack full capabilities for managing PFAS risk
Action: Make ORD technical staff available to consult on PFAS issues Utilize applied research at impacted sites to develop new research solutions while also providing technical support to site managers Summarize reoccurring or common support requests to share lessons learned from technical support activities in ORD Collaborate with ECOS and ASTHO to develop state case studies for effective risk communication of waterborne contaminants (PFAS and HABs)
Results: Many examples of past and ongoing technical assistance Cape Fear River, MC - Significant reductions in PFAS in source and finished drinking water Manchester, NH - Collaboration on air and water sampling Wyoming, OH - Rapid analysis of PFAS cross contamination in water distribution system
Impact: Enable states, tribes and communities to 'take action on PFAS'
Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA
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ED 002061 00174278-00011
SEPA
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Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA
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ED 002061 00174278-00012
For More Information
Andrew Gillespie, PhD Associate Director, National Exposure Research Laboratory ORD Executive Lead for PFAS R&D US EPA Office of Research and Development 919- 541-3655 gillespie.andrew@epa.gov
Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA
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ED 002061 00174278-00013