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Transport

Case Studies for the Atmospheric Transport of Environmental Contaminants: PFAS and Pesticides in Precipitation

Title: Case Studies for the Atmospheric Transport of Environmental Contaminants: PFAS and Pesticides in Precipitation
NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory Seminar Series

Presenter(s): Jennifer Faust, College of Wooster

Sponsor(s): NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory.

Seminar Contact(s): jan.kazil@noaa.gov

Abstract: Here we will explore two stories of how chemicals move through the atmosphere: PFAS and pesticides. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are long-lived environmental contaminants of concern for human health. When released into the atmosphere, they can undergo long-range transport, followed by return to Earth through deposition. We have quantified 15 PFAS in rainwater from the central United States. During summer 2019, PFAS concentrations ranged from 50-850 ng/L, as measured by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Trifluoroacetic acid accounted for approximately 90% of all PFAS. Levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorosulfonic acid (PFOS) were comparable to levels observed over the past two decades in spite of regulatory restrictions. We also detected HFPO-DA (GenX), a replacement for legacy PFAS, at all measurement sites. Analysis by ANOVA modeling and correlation matrices indicated statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in PFAS profiles at sites separated by tens to hundreds of kilometers, highlighting the importance of local point sources on deposition of PFAS in the United States. In our more recent work, we have expanded our precipitation analysis to characterize pesticides in precipitation samples using suspect screening with high-resolution mass spectrometry and air mass back trajectory analysis.

Bio(s): Dr. Jennifer Faustthis link opens in a new window (she/her/hers) joined the faculty at the College of Wooster in fall 2017 as an assistant professor of analytical and environmental chemistry. She previously obtained her PhD in physical chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2015, and she completed a postdoctoral fellowship in atmospheric chemistry at the University of Toronto. Jennifer now leads an undergraduate research group in environmental chemistry at the College of Wooster, where she has mentored one postdoctoral fellow and 29 undergraduate researchers, including 16 senior thesis students. She received a National Science Foundation CAREER award in 2021 to characterize the transport and fate of pesticides in the atmosphere. Other research projects in the Faust group include the formation of brown carbon, the oxidation of rubber, and the occurrence of PFAS in rainwater.

PFAS: Advancing the Understanding of Fate and Transport

Please join the Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association (NEWMOA) for a webinar to help understand the prevalence of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment and the risk it might pose to the public. Join us to learn more and ask your questions!

1:30 to 3:00 (Eastern) 

Fate & Transport and Recycling of PFAS in the Environment
Steve LaRosa, Emerging Contaminant Technical Leader, Weston & Sampson will present an overview of PFAS Fate & Transport including sources of PFAS in the environment and how it cycles through the different media.

Understanding PFAS Fate & Transport: Review of Models for Evaluating PFAS in Land Applied Residuals & Biosolids
Derek Sain, Research Scientist, NCASI, Dr. Erika Houtz, Senior Environmental Engineer, Arcadis, and Chris Shepherd, Principal Hydrogeologist, Arcadis will present the findings from a March 2020 study that evaluated the capabilities of existing models to assess PFAS transport from land applied residuals. The study focused on three primary pathways: leaching to groundwater, surface water runoff, and plant uptake models.


FREE for federal, state, and local government officials only.
  All others must pay a $25 registration fee with a credit card when registering.

Register for the Webinar at:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3681737082592738061 

Note: In order to bring the cost to zero, government officials should enter the discount code (case sensitive): GOVT
Please make sure to use your government email address when registering so NEWMOA can easily validate your registration

 

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