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PFAS — Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

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PFAS Home Page
About ITRC
Navigating This Website
PFAS 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 and Products
2.6 PFAS Releases to the Environment
3 Firefighting Foams
3 Firefighting Foams Overview
3.1 Foam Formulations
3.2 AFFF Characteristics
3.3 Mechanisms for Release to the Environment
3.4 AFFF Fate and Transport
3.5 Forensic Analysis of AFFF
3.6 AFFF Procurement and Inventory
3.7 Foam Systems and Operations
3.8 Emergency Firefighting Operations
3.9 Immediate Investigative and Cleanup Actions
3.10 AFFF Disposal
3.11 Firefighting Foam System Replacement
3.12 Federal, State and International Regulations and Guidance
3.13 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, Sediment, and Biosolids
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 Risk Assessment
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 Forensics and Source Identification
11 Sampling and Analysis
11 Sampling and Analysis Overview
11.1 Sampling
11.2 Analytical Methods/Techniques
11.3 Data Evaluation
11.4 Source Identification
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 Air Treatment Technologies
12.6 Limited Application and Developing Liquids Treatment Technologies
12.7 Limited Application and Developing Solids Treatment Technologies
12.8 Integrated Water Treatment Solutions
12.9 Sustainability of PFAS Treatment
12.10 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
15.5 Surface Water Quality Case Studies
16 Surface Water Quality
16 Surface Water Quality
16.1    Introduction
16.2 Protection of Human Health
16.3 Protection of Biota
16.4 Sampling and Analysis
16.5 Surface Water Foam
16.6 Effluent Limits for PFAS
16.7 Surface Water/Groundwater Interaction
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
References
Acronyms
Glossary
Acknowledgments
Team Contacts
Document Feedback

 

PFAS — Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
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Acronyms

AACO Army Aviation Centre Oakey
AA-QS annual average quality standards
ADONA trade name for 4,8-dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoate
AERMOD American Meteorological Society/EPA Regulatory Model
AFCEC Air Force Civil Engineering Center
AFFF aqueous film-forming foam
ALT alanine aminotransferase
amu atomic mass unit
ANSES French National Agency for Food Safety, Environment and Labor
ANSI American National Standards Institute
AOF adsorbable organic fluorine
APC air pollution control
APFN ammonium perfluoronanoate
APFO ammonium perfluorooctanoate
ARAR applicable or relevant and appropriate requirement
AM arithmetic mean
ANPRM Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
ARP advanced reduction processes
ATSDR Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
AWI Air-water interface
AWQC ambient water quality criteria
BAF bioaccumulation factor
BARC bottom antireflective coatings
BAT best available technology economically achievable
BBMD Bayesian benchmark dose
BCF bioconcentration factor
BERA baseline ecological risk assessment
bgs below ground surface
BMD benchmark dose
BMF biomagnification factor
BMP best management practices
BOHP Bi3O(OH)(PO4)2
BSAF biota-sediment accumulation factor
BuFASA N-butyl perfluoroalkane sulfonamide
BuFASE N-butyl perfluoroalkane sulfonamido ethanols
BuFASAA N-butyl perfluoroalkane sulfonamido acetic acid
BV bed volume
BW body weight
C carbon
C8 historical name for PFOA
C&D construction and demolition
CAA Clean Air Act
CAC colloidal activated carbon
CalEPA California Environmental Protection Agency
CAP chemical action plan, or corrective action plan
CAPEX capital expenses
CAS Chemical Abstracts Service
CBPR community-based participatory research
CCL Contaminant Candidate List
CCV continuing calibration verification
CDC U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
CHP catalyzed hydrogen peroxide
CIC combustion ion chromatography
CIMS chemical ionization mass spectrometry
CL clearance factor
ClPFPECA chloroperfluoropolyether carboxylate
CMC critical micelle concentrations
CNT carbon nanotube
COOH carboxylic acid functional group
CSF cancer slope factor
CSM conceptual site model
CWA Clean Water Act
Da Dalton (unit of mass)
DDT dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane
DIN EN Deutsches Institut für Normung, German Institute for Standardization, English
DMSO dimethyl sulfoxide
DNAPL dense nonaqueous phase liquid
DOC dissolved organic carbon
DQO data quality objective
DW drinking water
DWR durable water repellent
EAO emergency administrative order
EBCT empty bed contact time
ECCC Environment and Climate Change Canada
ECF electrochemical fluorination
ECHA European Chemicals Agency
ECOS Environmental Council of the States
ECT Emerging Compound Treatment Technologies, Inc.
EE/CA Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis
EIS extraction internal standards
ELG effluent limitation guidelines
EPC exposure point concentration
ERA ecological risk assessment
ERB equipment rinse blank
ESS Environmental Sequence Stratigraphy
ESTCP Environmental Security Technology Certification Program
EtFASA N-ethyl perfluoroalkane sulfonamide
EtFASE N-ethyl perfluoroalkane sulfonamido ethanol (var: N-ethyl perfluoroalkane sulfonamide ethanol)
EtFASAA N-ethyl perfluoroalkane sulfonamido acetic acid (var: N-ethyl perfluoroalkane sulfonamide acetic acid)
ETFE ethylene tetrafluoroethylene
EtFOSA N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamide
EtFOSE N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido ethanol (var: N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamide ethanol)
EU European Union
F fluorine
F-53B chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (PFOS substitute for plating)
F3 fluorine-free foams
FAA Federal Aviation Administration
FAQ frequently asked questions
FASA perfluoroalkane sulfonamide
FASE perfluoroalkane sulfonamido ethanol (var: perfluoroalkane sulfonamide ethanol)
FASAA perfluoroalkane sulfonamido acetic acid (var: perfluoroalkane sulfonamide acetic acid)
FCM food contact materials
FCS food contact substances
FD field duplicate
FDA U.S. Food and Drug Administration
FEC Foam Exposure Committee
FECA fluorinated ether carboxylate
FEP perfluorinated ethylene-propylene
FFFC Fire Fighting Foam Coalition
FFFP film-forming fluoroprotein foam
FhxSA perfluorohexane sulfonamide
foc fraction of organic carbon
FOSA, or PFOSA perfluorooctane sulfonamide
FOSE perfluorooctane sulfonamido ethanol (var: perfluorooctane sulfonamide ethanol)
FOSAA perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid (var: perfluorooctane sulfonamide acetic acid)
FP fluoroprotein (used in the contex of firefighting foam formulations that contain a fluorinated surfactant)
FRB field reagent blank
FRM Federal Reference Method
FSANZ Food Standards Australia and New Zealand
fT4 free thyroxine
FTA fire training area
FTCA fluorotelomer carboxylic acid
FT-ICR Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance
FTOH fluorotelomer alcohol
FTSA or FTS fluorotelomer sulfonate, fluorotelomer sulfonic acid
FtTAoS fluorotelomer thioether amido sulfonate
FTUCA fluorotelomer unsaturated carboxylic acid
FWQC federal water quality goal
GAC granular activated carbon
GC gas chromatography
GC/MS Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry
GEF Global Environment Facility
GenX trade name for a polymerization processing aid formulation that contains ammonium 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy)propanoate
GLI Great Lakes Initiative
GM geometric mean
GMAV genus mean acute value
HA health advisory
HASP Health and Safety Plan
HDPE high-density polyethylene
HFPO-DA hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid
HHRA human health risk assessment
HI hazard index
HQ hazard quotient
HRMS high-resolution mass spectrometry
HRSC High-resolution site characterization
IARC International Agency for Research on Cancer
ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization
ICV initial calibration verification
IDA isotope dilution analysis
IDW investigation-derived waste
IPEN International Pollutants Elimination Network
IRIS Integrated Risk Information System
ITRC Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council
IX ion exchange
Kd bulk partitioning coefficient
Koc organic carbon partitioning coefficent
Kow water/octanol coefficient
LC liquid chromatography
LC/MS/MS liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry
LCS lab control sample
LCPFAC long-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylate
LDPE low-density polyethylene
LEAF Leaching Environmental Assessment Framework
LHA lifetime health advisory
LHWA Little Hocking Water Association
LNAPL light nonaqueous phase liquid
LOAEL lowest observed adverse effect level
LOEC lowest observed effect concentration
LOQ limit of quantitation
MA DEP Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
MAC-QS maximum acceptable quality standards
MALDI-TOF matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight
MCL Maximum Contaminant Level
MDH Minnesota Department of Health
MeFASA N-methyl perfluoroalkane sulfonamide
MeFASE N-methyl perfluoroalkane sulfonamido ethanol (var: N-methyl perfluoroalkane sulfonamide ethanol)
MeFASAA N-methyl perfluoroalkane sulfonamido acetic acid (var: N-methyl perfluoroalkane sulfonamide acetic acid)
MeFOSA N-methyl perfluorooctane sulfonamide
MEP Multiple Extraction Procedure
ML method limit
MNA monitored natural attenuation
MOA mode of action
MPCA Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
MRL minimal risk level, or minimum reporting limit (laboratory analytical)
MRM multiple reaction monitoring
MS mass spectrometry
MSD matrix spike duplicate
MSW municipal solid waste
MWCO molecular weight cut-off
NAM new assessment method
NaPFO sodium perfluorooctanoate
NAPL nonaqueous phase liquid
NCOD National Contaminant Occurrence Database
NER non-extractable residues
NESHAP National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
N-EtFOSA N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamide
NF nanofiltration
NFPA National Fire Protection Association
NGWA National Groundwater Association
NHANES National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
NHDES New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
NJ DEP New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
NJDWQI New Jersey Drinking Water Quality Institute
NMeFOSAA N-Methylperfluorooctane sulfonamidoacetic acid
NOAEL no observed adverse effect level
NOEC no observed effect concentration
NOM natural organic matter
NOx nitrogen oxides
NPCA Norwegian Pollution Control Agency
NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
NPDWRs National Primary Drinking Water Regulations
NPL National Priorities List
NSF National Sanitation Foundation
NTP National Toxicology Program
NWQC national water quality criteria
NYDEC New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
O&M operation and maintenance
OAT organic anion transporter protein
OC organic carbon
OCPSF organic chemicals, plastics and synthetic fibers
OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
OEHHA Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (California)
OH hydroxide ion, or hydroxyl group (Helmenstine 2018)
OPEX operating expenses
ORD Office of Research and Development (USEPA)
OSB oriented strand board
OU operable unit
PAB permeable absorptive barrier
PA DEP Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
PAC powdered activated carbon
PAF perfluoroalkanoyl fluorides
PAH polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon
PASF perfluoroalkane sulfonyl fluoride
PBSF perfluorobutane sulfonyl fluoride
PBT persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic
PCA principal components analysis
PCBs polychlorinated biphenyls
PCE perchloroethylene
PE performance evaluation
PFA perfluoroalkoxy polymer
PFAA perfluoroalkyl acid
PFAI perfluoroalkyl iodides
PFAS per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
PFBA perfluorobutanoate, perfluorobutanoic acid, perfluorobutyrate, perfluorobutyric acid
PFBE perfluorobutyl ethylene
PFBS perfluorobutane sulfonate, perfluorobutane sulfonic acid
PFC perfluorocarbon (CnF2n+1, for example, perfluorooctane)
Do not use this acronym for any other description including perfluorinated compound or perfluorochemical.
PFCA perfluoroalkyl carboxylate, perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid
PFDA perfluorodecanoate, perfluorodecanoic acid
PFDoA, or PFDoDA perfluorododecanoate, perfluorododecanoic acid
PFDoS, or PFDoDS perfluorododecane sulfonate, perfluorododecane sulfonic acid
PFDS perfluorodecane sulfonate, perfluorodecane sulfonic acid
PFECA per- or polyfluoroalkyl ether carboxylic acid
PFEI perfluoroethyl iodide (aka fluorotelomer iodide)
PFESA per- or poly- fluoroalkyl ether sulfonic acid
PFHpA perfluoroheptanoate, perfluoroheptanoic acid
PFHpS perfluoroheptane sulfonate, perfluoroheptane sulfonic acid
PFHxA perfluorohexanoate, perfluorohexanoic acid
PFHxS perfluorohexane sulfonate, perfluorohexane sulfonic acid
PFIB perfluoroisobutylene
PFMOAA perfluoro-2-methoxyacetic acid
PFNA perfluorononanoate, perfluorononanoic acid
PFNS perfluorononane sulfonate, perfluorononane sulfonic acid
PFOA perfluorooctanoate, perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorooctane carboxylate
PFOS perfluorooctane sulfonate, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid
PFOSA, or FOSA perfluorooctane sulfonamide
PFPA perfluorophosphonic acid
PFPE perfluoropolyether
PFPeA perfluoropentanoate, perfluoropentanoic acid
PFPeS perfluoropentane sulfonate, perfluoropentane sulfonic acid
PFPiA perfluorophosphinic acid
PFSA perfluoroalkyl sulfonate, perfluoroalkane sulfonic acid
PFSiA perfluoroalkyl sulfinic acid
PFTeDA, or PFTA perfluorotetradecanoic acid
PFTeDS, or PFTS perfluorotetradecane sulfonate, perfluorotetradecane sulfonic acid
PFTrDA, or PFTriA perfluorotridecanoic acid
PFTrDS, or PFTriS perfluorotridecane sulfonate, perfluorotridecane sulfonic acid
PFUnA, or PFUnDA perfluoroundecanoate, perfluoroundecanoic acid
PFUnS, or PFUnDS perfluoroundecane sulfonate, perfluoroundecane sulfonic acid
pg/m3 picogram per cubic meter
pH negative log of hydrogen ion concentration (measure of acidity)
PHxSF perfluorohexane sulfonyl fluoride
PICs products of incomplete combustion
PIGE partice-induced gamma-ray emission spectroscopy
PIH pregnancy-induced hypertension
PILI polymer with ionic liquid coated iron
PNEC predicted no-effect concentration
POD porewater observation device
POE point of exposure
POET point of entry treatment
polyDADMAC Polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride
POP persistent organic pollutant
POPRC-14 14th meeting of the POPs Review Committee
POSF perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride
POU point of use
PPAR-α peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α
ppb parts per billion
PPE personal protective equipment
ppm parts per million
ppt parts per trillion
PPRTV Provisional Peer-Reviewed Toxicity Values
PSA prostate-specific antigen
PSD passive sampling device
PTFE polytetrafluoroethylene
PUF polyurethane foam
PVDF polyvinylidene fluoride
PWS public water system
QA quality assurance
QAPP quality assurance project plan
QC quality control
QL quantitation limit
QPD qualified products database
QPL Qualified Product Listing
QSAR quantitative structure-activity relationship
QSM Quality Systems Manual
qTOF/MS quadrupole time of flight-mass spectrometry
RAO remedial action objective
RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
REACH European Chemicals Regulation
RfD reference dose
RI/FS Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study
RIVM Netherlands National Institue for Public Health and the Environment
RL reporting limit
RML removal management level
RO reverse osmosis
RPD relative percent difference
RPF relative potency factor
RSC relative source contribution
RSL regional screening level (Note: In many commercial venues RSL means “restricted substances list.”)
RSSCT rapid small-scale column testing
SAP Sampling and Analysis Plan
SCWO supercritical water oxidation
s.d. or SD standard deviation
SDS Safety Data Sheet
SDWA Safe Drinking Water Act
SERDP Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program
SIP sorbent-impregnated polyurethane foam
SL screening level
SMART specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely (goal)
SMAV species mean acute value
SML surface micro layer
SMZ surface-modified zeolites
SNUR Significant New Use Rule
SPE solid-phase extraction
SPLP Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Procedure
SSD species sensitivity distribution
STAR Spill Tactics for Alaska Responders
TANA Technical Assistance Needs Assessments
TARC top-layer antireflective coatings
TBC to-be-considered values
TBEL technology-based effluent limits
TCE trichloroethene
TCEQ Texas Commission for Environmental Quality
TCLP Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure
TDS total dissolved solids
TEQ toxic equivalency quotient
TFE tetrafluoroethylene
TMDL total maximum daily loads
TMF trophic magnification factor
TO Toxic Organic (method)
TOC total organic carbon
TOF time-of-flight
TOP total oxidizable precursor
TRRP Texas Risk Reduction Program
TRV toxicity reference value
TSH Thyroid-stimulating hormones
TSCA Toxic Substances Control Act
TTDs target organ toxicity doses
UCMR Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule
UF ultrafiltration
mg/kg micrograms per kilogram
UL Underwriters Laboratories
U.S.C. United States Code
USDOD United States Department of Defense
USDW Underground sources of drinking water
USEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency
USGS United States Geological Survey
VDEC Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation
VDH Vermont Department of Health
VOC volatile organic compound
WQBEL water quality-based effluent limits
WV wildlife value
ww wet weight
WWTP wastewater treatment plant
ZVI zero-valent iron

Updated September 2023.

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