Reducing the potential magnitude of the Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) liability will require a sustained effort to identify the best technologies to characterize, treat, and manage these sites. Efficient and meaningful investigations will require significant improvements in the current understanding of PFAS toxicity and behavior in the environment, as well as improvements in sampling and analysis of PFAS. A substantial fraction of impacted sites will likely require remediation. Given the recalcitrance and complexity of PFAS, as well as the low cleanup levels likely to be required, advances in current remediation technologies are needed to improve effectiveness and greatly reduce costs. SERDP and ESTCP have funded hundreds of projects that have quickly and significantly advanced our understanding and management of PFAS in the environment. Our work evaluates a range of potential treatment technologies, ecotoxicological effects, and improved AFFF site characterization. An overview of these investments is shown below.
Improved understanding in characterizing and modelling the nature of sources (and associated plumes) will lead to more targeted remediation strategies for sites posing the greatest risk. Several projects have been initiated to better understand the occurrence, fate and transport of PFAS in the environment.
SERDP and ESTCP fund the development and demonstration of PFAS treatment technologies that include a wide variety of different processes and generally fall into the following categories: thermal treatment, treatment of investigation derived waste (IDW), biodegradation, in situ groundwater treatment, development of new sorbents, above-ground treatment, and the impact of co-occurring chemicals.
SERDP and ESTCP are focused on improving sampling and analysis for PFAS in environmental matrices. Significant efforts are underway to develop passive sampling methodologies, improve total organic fluorine (TOF), and develop a forensics approach to PFAS in the environment.
SERDP and ESTCP efforts to close knowledge gaps in ecotoxicity and ecological risk will aid in the development of appropriate site-specific risk assessments and help in decision-making related to mitigation of exposures and/or future environmental cleanup. Current projects are addressing impacts of PFAS to several species, including but not limited to avian, mammalian, and reptilian species.
| Treatment | Ecotoxicity | Fate, Transport and Characterization | Analytical and Sampling Methods | PFAS-Free AFFF |
