PFAS - Automatic Sampling Strategies

Presented by Steve McManus
Contact Information: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of synthetic compounds containing thousands of chemicals formed from carbon (C) chains with fluorine (F) attached to these chains. They have been widely used in consumer applications since 1940 because of their oil and water repellent properties. The C-F bond is the shortest and strongest bond persistent in nature and does not easily degrade. As it is bio-accumulative, it builds up in living issues. It has created health and environmental concerns.

In December 2022, EPA developed a “PFAS Roadmap” and recommended that publicly owned treatment works (POTW) update their Industrial User (IU) inventory to include industries expected or suspected of PFAS discharges. The EPA also suggested the use of Best Management Practices and pollution prevention to address PFAS discharges to POTWs. The EPA’s PFAS Roadmap asks POTWs to update IU permits to include quarterly PFAS monitoring. EPA asks POTWs to develop sampling plans using EPA Method 1633 in conjunction with Method 1621.

This presentation will provide a background on PFAS, new EPA proposed regulations on drinking water, and what that might mean for wastewater and biosolids. In addition, sampling and measurement best practices will be discussed. The best practices are exacting, because PFAS can be detected in trace amounts in water and wastewater, but obtaining an accurate assessment is challenging due to the ubiquitous nature of the chemicals and the ease with which samples may be contaminated. Topics covered include:

  1. PFAS explanation
  2. Health and environmental concerns from PFAS.
  3. PFAS sources and exposure pathways
  4. EPA limits for different PFAS chemicals
  5. EPA approved methods for type of media (drinking water, ground water, surface water, seawater, wastewater, sludge, and biosolids)
  6. EPA's PFAS Roadmap and guidelines for POTWs
  7. Challenges in monitoring PFAS
  8. Best Management Practices for sampling
    1. Material to be used and materials to be avoided during sample collection process.
    2. Preparation before leaving for sampling site.
    3. Care to be taken while taking samples.
    4. Storing and transporting samples