PFASs Overview, Challenges, and the Potential Impacts. Brian McNamara, P.E. 16 March 2017

Transcription

1 PFASs Overview, Challenges, and the Potential Impacts Brian McNamara, P.E. 16 March 2017

2 Safety Moment Sun Protection Commonly Sunscreen SPF 30+ UVA/UVB protection What if you can t use common sunscreens?

3 Safety Moment Sun Protection Some alternatives: Long sleeve shirts/pants Wide brimmed hats Light colors 100% cotton or 100% natural ingredients Natural/Organic Sunscreens Baby Sunscreens

4 Nomenclature What s in a Name PFAS Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances General term for a family of synthetic organic compounds containing multiple fluorine atoms Various carbon chains with fluorine replacing some or all hydrogen atoms Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database

5 Nomenclature What s in a Name Lindstrom et al. (2011) A large family PFAS includes hundreds to thousands of other compounds

6 Nomenclature What s in a Name Perfluorocarboxylic acid (PFOA) Carbons are added / subtracted to create other PFASs Conder et al. (2008)

7 Uses Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) Chrome/Metal Plating Semiconductor Aviation hydraulic fluids Oil/Water Resistant Finishes Clothes Carpeting Cookware Food Packaging Consumer Products Denture cleaner Floor polish

8 Uses

9 Potential Sources PFAS Manufacturing Facilities Military Installations Hydraulic fluids Firefighting training areas Hangars Airports Firefighting Training Areas Metal Plating Wastewater Treatment Plants Biosolids Application Areas Landfills

10 Fate & Toxicology Overview Extremely Persistent in Environment High Solubility/Mobility in Water Can lead to larger plumes Up to miles long Low Volatility Partition to Soils/Sediment Recalcitrant C-F bond Minnesota PFAS Groundwater Plume >10 Miles Minnesota Department of Health, 2016

11 Fate & Toxicology Overview Potential Human Exposure Adults and Children Major Drinking Water Food Minor» Homegrown produce» Fish/seafood Inhalation (air) Dermal adsorption Other Potentials (Children) Breastmilk Carpet Other Items that Go in the Mouth

12 Fate & Toxicology Overview Biological Fate PFAS partitions to proteins, not fat Found predominantly in blood, liver, kidneys, spleen, muscle Commonly not metabolized Elimination Bioaccumulative Longer PFASs especially Half lives of PFOS & PFOA on order of years Shorter chain PFASs on order of days Less Bioaccumulative More Bioaccumulative

13 Guideline Summary Health Guidelines USEPA Lifetime Health Advisory (HA) level published May 2016 PFOS + PFOA = µg/l (70 ppt) Non-regulatory

14 Guideline Summary State PFOS PFOA Notes Minnesota 0.3 ppb (µg/l) 0.3 ppb (µg/l) New Jersey ppb (µg/l) New York ppb (µg/l) North Carolina ppb (µg/l) Texas 0.56 ppb (µg/l) 0.29 ppb (µg/l) Chronic Health Risk Limits Under Review due to USEPA 2016 Guidelines Preliminary Health-Based Guidance for PFOA in drinking water. Enforceable drinking water standard for any chemical (including PFOA) classified as an unspecified organic contaminant. Plans to pursue USEPA guidelines. Interim Maximum Allowable Concentration set 2006 at 2 ppb. Revised Texas Risk Reduction Program (TRRP) Tier 1 Protective Concentration Levels (PCLs) Residential. Also have standards for other PFASs in groundwater and soil. Vermont ppb (µg/l) --- West Virginia ppb (µg/l) *USEPA HA: PFOS + PFOA = ppb (µg/l) Alternative drinking water source to be provided.

15 Investigative Challenges Sampling Issues Paradigm Shift Cross contamination from everyday products and standard sampling equipment Sunscreens, insect repellants New clothing or clothing washed in fabric softeners Waterproof, stain-resistant clothing Cosmetics, lotions, moisturizers Waterproof field logbooks Aluminum foil LDPE Post-it notes

16 Investigative Challenges Sampling Methods USEPA Method 537 Drinking Water Method PFOS, PFOA, & 12 other PFASs Modified by laboratories for 12 to 39 compounds Adapted for groundwater & soil General cost range $300 - $600+ Alternative Analytical Tools Being Assessed Field Ion Chromatograph Particle-Induced Gamma Emission (PIGE) Absorbable Organofluorine (AOF) Total Oxidizable Precursor (TOP) Assay

17 Remediation Challenges due to most PFASs not bioor chemically degradable Current expenses rather costly Water Filtration Nanofiltration / RO Sorption Activated Carbon Ion Exchange Resins / Zeolites Soil Excavation / Incineration Soil Stabilization Other ISCO Enhance transformation Plasma water treatment

18 Potential Impacts 2012 Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 3 (UCMR3) Six PFASs added to list Included PFOS & PFOA Detected in groundwater in Arizona

19 Potential Impacts UCMR3 Data Approx 60 water suppliers > USEPA HA Four sample locations in AZ > 0.07 ppb PFOS + PFOA Three locations in Maricopa County Date PWSID Facility Name PFOS + PFOA 11/18/2014 AZ Well 02 Airline 0.24 ppb 7/6/2013 AZ EPDS001 ID# ppb 7/6/2013 AZ EPDS004 ID# ppb 1/14/2014 AZ EPDS001 ID# ppb 1/14/2014 AZ EPDS004 ID# ppb

20 Potential Impacts to Arizona Air Force (Nationwide) AFFF used from 1970 Almost 1 million gallons AFFF stocked at one point Used for firefighting training, fuel fires, hanger suppression systems Flight mission installations had fire training areas Commonly unlined until 1990s U.S. AirForce, 21 December 2012

21 Potential Impacts to Arizona Air Force (Nationwide) Completed PAs Ongoing SIs BRAC: 360 potential AFFF impacted sites Active: 715 potential AFFF impacted sites Air National Guard: 700 potential AFFF impacted sites Two Ongoing RIs U.S. AirForce 24 September 2013

22 Potential Impacts to Arizona Photo: U.S. Marines 16 October 2015 MCAS Yuma Site Name / Potential AOC Description SITE Flight Line SITE Shops Area Navy / Marine Corps Predominant Sources Fire & Emergency Response Testing & Training Implementing process to identify / prioritize inventory of sites & AOCs Approx 280 potential AOCs nationwide SITE SITE SITE Radar Hill Disposal Area Fire School Southeast Station Landfill SITE Lagoon BLDG 97 SWMU SWMU Going to RFI Stage Source: Department of the Navy 20 June 2016

23 Potential Impacts to Arizona Fire Training Facilities / Readiness Multiple locations throughout AZ Prior aircraft fire training AFFF foam storage

24 Potential Impacts to Arizona Historic Fires Warehouses Tankers Stormwater conveyance

25 Potential Impacts to Arizona Chrome plating PFASs in etching agents PFOS containing mist suppressant for plating Used to comply with Chromium MACT (40 CFR 63, Subpart N) USEPA Region 5 Study PFOS found in WWTP influent, effluent & sludge (concentrated) Main sources chrome plating facilities Sampled process water discharge from 11 plating facilities PFOS = ,000 ppt PFOA = ND 650 ppt

26 Potential Impacts to Arizona Semiconductor Photolithography Photoresists Anti-reflective coatings PFOA as surfactant in CMP Small amounts PFOS/PFOA in: Color filter Developers Wet Etchants

27 Potential Impacts to Arizona WWTP Biosolids Applications Land application pursuant to A.A.C. R Registration process through ADEQ Widely applied for agricultural purposes Landfills PFAS waste disposal PFAS containing products disposed Fabrics/textile conditioners Management of PFAS-containing leachate

28 Thank You Brian McNamara

29 Brian McNamara Biographical Sketch Brian McNamara, P.E., is a Senior Engineer with Geosyntec Consultants Phoenix office. He has more than 16 years of experience in environmental consulting, regulatory agency permitting, and manufacturing. Brian focuses on site investigation, remediation, and environmental compliance for a broad range of industries including power, aerospace, sand and gravel, metal processing, landfills, and general manufacturing facilities. He has led remediation and permitting projects at a variety of sites throughout the United States and American Samoa. Brian s experience and background provides clients with a unique perspective to effectively and expeditiously address regulatory requirements in a cost effective manner.