AFFF formulations have been used by DoD since the 1970s to suppress fires, and there are hundreds of sites with associated PFAS contamination. The DoD used AFFF mixtures containing 2 significant quantities of PFOS and related perfluoroalkyl sulfonates such as PFHxS until 2002, when production stopped, although the DoD continued to use PFOS-containing AFFF stocks for some time after. Although the DoD’s legacy use of AFFF included various fluorotelomer-based formulations, the vast majority of DoD’s environmental liability likely results from the use of PFOS-based AFFF. Additional research on PFASs is timely given the USEPA’s recent drinking water health advisories for two common PFASs, PFOA and PFOS, as well as the numerous states that are beginning to promulgate drinking water standards.
SERDP and ESTCP have been funding research on AFFF contamination for several years, to improve PFAS analysis, to develop tools for assessing the fate of PFASs in the subsurface, and to evaluate the potential for in situ remediation. Research is ongoing to evaluate a range of potential remediation technologies and improved AFFF site characterization and technology transfer regarding PFAS contamination. To provide strategic guidance for future research and demonstrations on management and remediation of AFFF-impacted sites, SERDP and ESTCP conducted a workshop on May 2-3, 2017 in Washington, D.C. The objectives of the workshop were (1) to review the current state of the science regarding sources of PFAS contamination, particularly AFFF, (2) to evaluate currently available and developing technologies for characterization and remediation of AFFF sites, and (3) to identify research and demonstration needs to improve remediation performance, efficiency, and ultimately reduce the cost of managing AFFF sites.
During the workshop, participants identified several areas in which collection and analysis of existing data was needed to guide future research efforts. Identified areas included data to improve identification of exposure pathways to T&E species, to improve on-site PFAS waste treatment, and to better assess remedial treatment technologies. Additional discussion of each of these areas is provided in the Workshop Report.
