PFAS are present in AFFF used by the DoD and other organizations to extinguish hydrocarbon fires. Different AFFF formulations have been used, but all contain a complex mixture of PFAS, including those of greatest regulatory concern - the PFAAs and potential PFAA precursors (Field et al., 2017; ITRC, 2017). EPA has recommended a Health Advisory Level for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and PFOS, and several states have promulgated standards for PFOA, PFOS, and some of the related PFAAs (ITRC, 2018a).
SERDP has been funding research on AFFF contamination for several years to improve PFAS analysis, to develop tools for assessing the fate of PFAS in the subsurface, and to evaluate the potential for in situ remediation. A recent SERDP & ESTCP-sponsored workshop identified a number of research needs, and proposers should view the Workshop Report to obtain additional detail concerning these discussions. PFOS is of particular concern to DoD, as it is the predominant PFAS in some AFFF formulations, and a significant dead-end metabolite in others, and therefore it is typically the predominant PFAS in AFFF-impacted groundwaters (Anderson et al., 2016). PFOS appears to be particularly resistant to destructive technologies, and like the rest of the PFAAs it is generally considered nonbiodegradable (ITRC, 2018b).
The development of standardized procedures for field sampling of environmental waters was identified as a critical priority research need in the SERDP & ESTCP Workshop Report. Currently, no single document or source exists for these procedures. The EPA’s Office of Research and Development is currently leading an effort to create and validate sampling procedures for environmental water and sediment/soil media. However, the timeframe for full validation of sampling procedures is unknown and their applicability to DoD projects is yet to be determined.