FY 2019 STATEMENT OF NEED

Environmental Restoration (ER) Program Area 

The objective of this Statement of Need (SON) was to improve our understanding of bioavailability, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the subsurface. Specifically, the goal was to address the following research areas of interest:

  • Improved understanding of the uptake and excretion rates of PFASs by organisms throughout the food web to at least include competitive uptake and/or selective bioaccumulation at different trophic levels.
  • Determine the rate and extent of PFAS uptake from soils and water by lower-trophic level organisms, along with the potential biotransformation of perfluoroalkyl acid (PFAA) precursors, in order to determine the relevant mixtures for further study with higher-trophic level organisms.
  • Identification of physical and geochemical factors affecting bioavailability of PFAS in sediments and soils.
  • Compare the potency of PFAS in relation to chain length, functional group, and varying levels of fluorination.
  • Assess PFAS bioaccumulation/biomagnification throughout a food web.

The projects listed below were selected to address the objectives of this SON. Additional information on individual projects can be found by clicking the project title.

Research should lead to a better understanding of the environmental impact of AFFF-impacted sites and directly impact the DoD’s ability to manage these sites more cost effectively while being protective of human health and the environment.