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PFAS — Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

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PFAS HOME
Navigating This Website
About ITRC
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 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 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
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 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
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
Additional Information
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
ITRC & Environmental Justice/Diversity Equity & Inclusion

 

PFAS — Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
HOME

PFAS Fact Sheets

This page includes links for the ITRC PFAS fact sheets. The fact sheets are available as PDF files. Several tables of supporting information are published separately so that they can be updated periodically by ITRC. The fact sheet user should visit this page to access the current versions of the files.

The references list and an acronyms list are available on the website.

  • Naming Conventions (published July 2022)
  • Regulations (published July 2022)
    • PFAS Water and Soil Values Table Excel file– (updated January 2023)
      • The Water Table includes the available PFAS water values established by the USEPA, each pertinent state, or country (Australia, Canada and Western European countries)
      • The Soil Table includes the available PFAS soil values established by the USEPA, each pertinent state, or country (Australia, Canada and Western European countries)
    • Basis for PFOA and PFOS Values Tables Excel file (updated March 2020)
      • The PFOA Table summarizes the differences in the PFOA values for drinking water in the United States.
      • The PFOS Table summarizes the differences in the PFOS values for drinking water in the United States.
  • History and Use (published July 2022)
  • Fate and Transport and Physical and Chemical Properties (published July 2022)
    • Physical and Chemical Properties Table 4-1 for select PFAS Excel file (updated October 2021)
  • Sampling Precautions and Laboratory Analytical Methods (published July 2022)
  • Site Characterization and Media-Specific Occurrence (published July 2022)
  • Treatment Technologies and Methods (published July 2022)
  • Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (published July 2022)
  • Human and Ecological Health Effects and Risk Assessment (published July 2022)
  • Risk Communication (published July 2022)
  • Stakeholder Perspectives (published July 2022)
  • Surface Water Quality (published July 2022)
  • Biosolids and Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (published October 2022)

PFAS Fact Sheets en Español

ITRC’s most popular PFAS Fact Sheets are now available in Spanish! Click the links below to view the PDF files.

  • Naming Conventions (Published August 2022)
  • Regulations (Published August 2022)
  • History and Use (Published July 2022)
  • Fate and Transport and Physical and Chemical Properties (Published July 2022)
  • Sampling Precautions and Laboratory Analytical Methods (Published July 2022)
  • Site Characterization and Media-Specific Occurrence (Published July 2022)
  • Treatment Technologies and Methods (Published April 2022)
  • Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (Published April 2022)
  • Human and Ecological Health Effects and Risk Assessment (Published April 2022)
  • Risk Communication (Published April 2022)
  • Stakeholder Perspectives (Published April 2022)

PFAS Fact Sheets em Português

ITRC’s most popular PFAS Fact Sheets are now available in Portuguese! Click the links below to view the PDF files.

  • Naming Conventions (Published January 2023)
  • Regulations (Published January 2023)
  • History and Use (Published January 2023)
  • Fate and Transport and Physical and Chemical Properties (Published January 2023)
  • Sampling Precautions and Laboratory Analytical Methods (Published January 2023)

PFAS Explainer Videos

The PFAS Team developed brief explainer videos to accompany the fact sheets. The following links will redirect you to ITRC’s PFAS Explainer Videos on YouTube:

  • ITRC PFAS Team Introduction
  • PFAS Naming Conventions
  • PFAS History and Use
  • PFAS Fate and Transport
  • PFAS Remediation
  • PFAS Lab Analytical Methods
  • Aqueous Film Forming Foam

 

Updated July 2022

 

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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.