A number of alternatives to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS)-containing aqueous film forming foams (AFFFs) are currently in development through SERDP-funded research, and commercially available PFAS-free firefighting formulations (F3s) are being tested under ESTCP. F3 are intended for use as alternatives to AFFFs, which have demonstrated toxicity to fish and aquatic invertebrates and have the potential for biomagnification in aquatic food webs. 

The main objectives of this project are to determine the relative toxicities of candidate F3s compared with a legacy AFFF via toxicity tests with fish and aquatic invertebrates. The specific technical objectives are:

1. Determine the acute toxicities of the selected F3s to both freshwater and marine fish and aquatic invertebrates;
2. Determine persistence of toxicity over time (i.e., to account for effects of aging, transformation and degradation in the environment);
3. Determine the chronic toxicity and potential sublethal endpoints, such as growth and reproduction, to freshwater and marine fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Larval Fathead Minnows are Exposed to Test Products at a Variety of Concentrations

All toxicity test protocols will follow published and widely accepted standard toxicity testing from recognized organizations (e.g., US Environmental Protection Agency, American Society for Testing and Materials, Organization for Economic and Co-operative Development, and/or International Organization for Standardization). Exposure during the bioassays will be monitored relative to initially spiked aqueous concentration by analysis of selected chemical features via targeted liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). 

It is critical to understand the potential risks (including exposure and hazard) that F3s may pose to the environment. Results of this project will enable a holistic environmental assessment by the Department of Defense (DoD) and regulatory stakeholders (e.g., state and federal) of candidate F3s. Fata will directly provide: 1) relative hazard ranking among the candidate products, including the potential for acute lethality and longer term, sublethal effects (growth and reproduction); and 2) an understanding of how persistence impacts potential effects. (Anticipated Project Completion - 2024)

Fuller, N., J.G. Suski, S. Lanasa, M.K. Chanov, D.K. Jones, D.L. Haskins, K.A. Quinlin, M.A. Wigren, J.T. Hoverman, Y.J. Choi, M.S. Sepulveda, L.S. Lee, G.R. Lotufo, A. Kennedy, L. May, A. Harmon, T. Biber, N. Melby, D.W. Moore, P.B. Key, K.W. Chung, E.F. Wirth, and T.A. Anderson. 2024. Chronic Toxicity of PFAS-Free Firefighting Foams to Aquatic Organisms. Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry, 43(11):2436-2454. doi.org/10.1002/etc.5979.

Jones, D.K., K.A. Quinlin, M.A. Wigren, Y.J. Choi, M.S. Sepúlveda, L.S. Lee, D.L. Haskins, G.R. Lotufo, A. Kennedy, L. May, A. Harmon, T. Biber, N. Melby, M.K. Chanov, M.L. Hudson, P.B. Key, K.W. Chung, D.W. Moore, J.G. Suski, E.F. Wirth, and J.T. Hoverman. 2022. Acute Toxicity of Eight Aqueous Film-Forming Foams to 14 Aquatic Species. Environmental Science & Technology, 56(10):6078-6090. doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c03776

Theses and Dissertations

Steward, J. 2023. The Impact of Select Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance-Free Aqueous Film-Forming Foams on the Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea Virginica) (Master’s Thesis). College of Charleston.