Author(s): Sudarshan Kurwadkar; Emma Hoffman-Davies

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Abstract: In recent years, there has been a growing concern regarding the occurrence of per– and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the aquatic environment. Their widespread detection, long-term persistence, and associated human health and ecological risk have renewed the emphasis on mitigating adverse impacts through material substitution, voluntary phaseouts, and regulatory measures. Despite these measures, PFAS are routinely detected in inland, coastal, marine, and subsurface environments. In this study, we have documented the occurrence of PFAS in groundwater that serves as a source of potable drinking water in the San Francisco Bay Area (SFBA). This study was undertaken as part of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) requirement for sampling and monitoring PFAS in drinking water wells to determine their occurrence, magnitude, and vulnerability of water resources. Careful analysis of several years of data suggests that many drinking water wells in the SFBA have elevated levels of various PFAS. Chronic exposure to PFAS-contaminated drinking water has serious human health implications. Analysis of existing PFAS remediation technologies, indicates the effectiveness of adsorption, reverse osmosis, and ion exchange technologies. Our findings suggest that these technologies are effective for the treatment of five PFAS compounds – perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS).

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Year: 2024