pfas-1.itrcweb.orgPFAS — Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

Skip to main content ☰ Navigating This Website Fact Sheets 1 Introduction 2 Naming Conventions and Use 2 PFAS Chemistry and Naming Conventions, History and Use of PFAS, and Sources of PFAS Releases to the Environment overview 2.1 Environmental Significance 2.2 Chemistry, Terminology, and Acronyms 2.3 Emerging Health and Environmental Concerns 2.4 PFAS Reductions and Alternative PFAS Formulations 2.5 PFAS Uses 2.6 PFAS Releases to the Environment 3 Firefighting Foams 3 Firefighting Foams Overview 3.1 Foam Formulations 3.2 Mechanisms for Release to the Environment 3.3 AFFF Procurement and Inventory 3.4 Foam Systems and Operations 3.5 Emergency Firefighting Operations 3.6 Immediate Investigative and Cleanup Actions 3.7 Treatment and Disposal 3.8 Firefighting Foam System Replacement 3.9 Federal, State, and International Regulations and Guidance 3.10 Foam Research and Development 4 Physical and Chemical Properties 4 Physical and Chemical Properties Overview 4.1 Challenges and Limitations Related to PFAS Physical and Chemical Properties 4.2 Physical Properties 4.3 Chemical Properties 5 Fate and Transport 5 Environmental Fate and Transport Processes Overview 5.1 Fate and Transport Introduction 5.2 Phase Partitioning 5.3 Media-Specific Migration Processes 5.4 Transformations 5.5 PFAS Uptake into Aquatic Organisms 5.6 PFAS Uptake into Plants 6 Occurrence 6 Media-Specific Occurrence Overview 6.1 Air 6.2 Soil and Sediment 6.3 Groundwater 6.4 Surface Water 6.5 Biota 7 Health Effects 7 Human and Ecological Health Effects of select PFAS Overview 7.1 Human Health Effects 7.2 Ecological Toxicology 8 Basis of Regulations 8 Basis of Regulations Overview 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Regulatory Programs 8.3 Differences in the Available Regulations, Advisories, and Guidance Regulatory 9 Site Risk Assessment 9 Site Risk Assessment Overview 9.1 Human Health 9.2 Ecological Risk Assessment 9.3 Uncertainty 10 Site Characterization 10 Site Characterization Overview 10.1 Site Characterization Issues Relevant to PFAS 10.2 Initial Steps 10.3 Site Investigation 10.4 Data Analysis and Interpretation 10.5 Source Identification 11 Sampling and Analysis 11 Sampling and Analytical Methods Overview 11.1 Sampling 11.2 Analytical Methods/Techniques 11.3 Data Evaluation 12 Treatment Technologies 12 Treatment Technologies Overview 12.1 Overview 12.2 Field-Implemented Liquids Treatment Technologies 12.3 Field-Implemented Solids Treatment Technologies 12.4 Incineration 12.5 Limited Application and Developing Liquids Treatment Technologies 12.6 Limited Application and Developing Solids Treatment Technologies 12.7 Integrated Remedial Solutions 12.8 Sustainability of PFAS Treatment 12.9 Improving Evaluation of PFAS Treatment Technologies 13 Stakeholder Perspectives 13 Stakeholder Perspectives Overview 13.1 Stakeholder Concerns 13.2 Specific Tribal Stakeholder Concerns 13.3 Stakeholder Resources 14 Risk Communication 14 Risk Communication Overview 14.1 Role of Risk Perception: Public Stakeholders and Decision Makers 14.2 Risk Communication Challenges 14.3 Risk Communication Planning and Engagement Tools 15 Case Studies 15 Case Studies Overview 15.1 Site Characterization Case Studies 15.2 Treatment Case Studies 15.3 Risk Assessment Case Study 15.4 Risk Communication Case Studies Additional Information 16 References 17 Additional Information 17 Additional Information Overview 17.1 Additional Information for Media-Specific Occurrence 17.2 Additional Information for Human Health Effects 17.3 Additional Information for Risk Assessment Acronyms Glossary Acknowledgments Team Contacts Document Feedback HOME pfas_welcome_slider_image itrc_slider5_325 contact_slider_correct This Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC) online document includes the PFAS Technical and Regulatory Guidance Document, PFAS Fact Sheets and Explainer Videos , Training Module Videos and external tables of data and information prepared by the ITRC PFAS Team. Internal links in the online document will help the reader locate interrelated topics, refer back to key concepts, and locate references, while external links provide connection to the training module videos, see below, on key topics. Finally, the web-based nature of this document lends itself to updating of key information in this rapidly evolving subject. It is the intention of ITRC to periodically update the document as significant new information and regulatory approaches for PFAS develop. The guidance document can be downloaded as a PDF. The Technical and Regulatory document is designed specifically to support state and federal environmental staff, as well as others (including stakeholders, project managers, and decision makers), to gain a working knowledge of the current state of PFAS science and practice. Developed by a team of over 400 environmental practitioners drawn from state and federal government, academia, industry, environmental consulting, and public interest groups, it also provides a summary of the current understanding of all aspects of PFAS from a broad perspective. While every effort was made to keep the information accessible to a wide audience, it is assumed the reader has some basic technical background in chemistry, environmental sciences, and risk assessment. An Introduction is provided for the document. The document addresses these questions: Questions Document Sections What are PFAS? Naming Conventions and Use Chemistry, Terminology, and Acronyms PFAS Uses PFAS Releases to the Environment How do they behave in the environment? Physical and Chemical Properties Environmental Fate and Transport Processes Media-Specific Occurrence Why are we concerned about PFAS? Human and Ecological Health Effects Basis of Regulations Site Risk Assessment How do we evaluate PFAS in the environment? Site Characterization Sampling and Analytical Methods How do we remediate PFAS? Treatment Technologies What are the major concerns of communities and Tribes and how do we share what we know about PFAS? Stakeholder Perspectives Risk Communication Special topics Firefighting Foams Case Studies PFAS Training Module Videos The PFAS Team developed training module videos to accompany this Technical and Regulatory Document. The following links will redirect you to ITRC’s PFAS Training Module Videos on Youtube: PFAS introduction Naming Conventions and Physical and Chemical Properties Production, Uses, Sources and Site Characterization Sampling and Analysis Fate and Transport Human and Ecological Effects Risk Assessment and Regulations Treatment Technologies Aqueous Film-Forming Foam Risk Communication Archived Round Table Sessions Roundtable Session 1 Roundtable Session 1 Digest Roundtable Session 2 Updated September 2020. Print this page/section Click Here to download the entire document. PFAS Download Complete Document PFAS Glossary PFAS References PFAS Acronyms ITRC Contact Us About ITRC Visit ITRC ITRC on Social Media Permission is granted to refer to or quote from this publication with the customary acknowledgment of the source (see suggested citation and disclaimer ). This web site is owned by ITRC • 1250 H Street, NW • Suite 850 • Washington, DC 20005 • (202) 266-4933 • Email: [email protected] • Terms of Service , Privacy Policy , and Usage Policy ITRC is sponsored by the Environmental Council of the States....