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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
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ITRC & Environmental Justice/Diversity Equity & Inclusion

ITRC & Environmental Justice – A Commitment to Our Values

Environmental Justice is making its way to the forefront of today’s environmental community following
decades of documentation detailing the disproportionate burden placed on low-income and minority
communities by pollution and environmental hazards. Failure to address EJ concerns has led to grave
consequences for low-income or minority communities; without a voice, human health in these
communities can suffer greatly as a result of poorly informed environmental decision-making.

Defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as “…the fair treatment and
meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect
to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and
policies,” EJ can only be achieved when everyone has “the same degree of protection from
environmental and health hazards, and equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy
environment in which to live, learn, and work.” (USEPA, 2020a). Since its inception in the early 1980s,
the field of EJ has grown to encompass a broad spectrum of other environmentally inclusive subjects,
concerns and, ultimately, legislation; some of the terminology commonly used today includes Social
Equity, Social Impact, and Environmental Equity.

Signed on February 16th, 1994, Executive Order 12898 officially recognized EJ on a federal level, directing
agencies to focus attention on the environmental and human health effects of federal actions on
minority and low-income populations (USEPA 2020b). Further executive action has been seen recently
with the signing of Executive Order 13990, on January 20, 2021, which established White House and
Inter-Agency Environmental Justice Councils, as well as the Justice40 Initiative for federal identification
and investment in disadvantaged communities (Federal Register, 2021). Another milestone was met
when New Jersey became the first state in the nation to adopt legislation on permitting requirements
based on EJ. Signed on September 18, 2020, Senate Bill 232 requires the New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection “to evaluate the environmental and public health impacts of certain facilities
on overburdened communities when reviewing certain permit applications.” (O’Connor, 2020).

ITRC will continue to develop reference material for project managers and environmental professionals
to consider in the use of current and future ITRC guidance materials in environmental decision-making
and project design. ITRC will include the principals of EJ in future environmental products – working
towards our mission while paying express attention to our core values of diversity, equity, inclusion and
transparency. ITRC is excited to be a part of addressing environmental justice and bringing more voices
to addressing the national and local environmental challenges.

ITRC Organizational Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Diversity, equity, inclusion and transparency are embodied within the core values of ITRC. They are
fulfilled in the pursuit of ITRC’s mission and vision. ITRC’s Membership Code of Conduct requires every
member to benefit from team consensus and collaboration. ITRC requires diverse perspectives that
provide the knowledge and skills to address all environmental challenges in pursuit of developing
innovative products.

References

Federal Register. Protecting public health and the environment and Restoring science to tackle the
climate crisis. (2021, January 25). Retrieved May 07, 2021, from
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/01/25/2021-01765/protecting-public-healthand-the-environment-and-restoring-science-to-tackle-the-climate-crisis

USEPA (a). Environmental Justice. (2020, December 07). Retrieved December 30, 2020, from
https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice

USEPA (b). Summary of Executive Order 12898 – federal actions to address environmental justice in
minority populations and low-income populations. (2020, July 23). Retrieved May 07, 2021, from
https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-executive-order-12898-federal-actions-address-environmental-justice

O’Connor, C. (2020, October 23). New Jersey’s First in the Nation State Environmental Justice Law.
Retrieved January 07, 2021, from https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/new-jersey-s-first-in-the-nation-state-10124/

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