249-1 Assessing Environmental and Human Exposure to Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)

Session: Emerging Contaminants: Geochemical Insights and Impacts on Human and Environmental Health

Presenting Author:

Xiaoyu Xu

Authors:

Xu, Xiaoyu¹, Parsons, Heather², Liu, Sizhuang³, Christen, Charles⁴, Henderson, Matthew⁵, Steele, Tyjaha⁶, Fletcher, Dean⁷, DeVault, Travis⁸, Rhodes, Olin E ⁹

(1) Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA, (2) Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA, (3) Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA, (4) ORISE, Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, GA, USA, (5) Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, GA, USA, (6) Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA, (7) Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA, (8) Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA, (9) Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA,

Abstract:

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pose significant risks to both ecological systems and public health due to their persistence, toxicity, and tendency to bioaccumulate.

Our first study characterized PFAS concentrations in aquatic and terrestrial systems near legacy contamination associated with aqueous film forming foam (AFFF). Results indicated distinct differences in concentrations and compositions among species, taxonomic groups, and trophic levels. Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) were the dominant PFAS subgroup in surface water, sediment, and topsoil. We observed biodilution through an aquatic food web, with levels in invertebrates exceeding those of fish, and biomagnification in terrestrial species, with levels in vultures exceeding those in passerines, followed by invertebrates. These findings enhance our understanding of PFAS behavior across food webs and inform ecological risk assessments and remediation planning.

A separate, second study evaluated PFAS exposure through routine dietary and water intake for residents living in the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA), at locations not impacted by the legacy AFFF contamination assessed in the first study. Using a community-based participatory research method, we recruited 18 households (63 participants) and collected detailed grocery records, dietary intake data, and unfiltered residential tap water from municipal water supplies. Dietary PFAS exposure was modeled using national-level concentration data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, while drinking water samples were analyzed directly for targeted PFAS compounds. Monte Carlo simulations were employed to estimate individual intake rates, incorporating variability in contaminant levels, ingestion behavior, and body weight. Results showed that 30% of households exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Maximum Contaminant Levels for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) in tap water samples. PFAS intake rates calculated by Monte Carlo simulation indicated that 100% of participants exceeded the EPA’s draft reference dose (RfD) for PFOA, and 92.4% exceeded the draft RfD for PFOS. The primary source of PFAS exposure appears to be through drinking water, potentially linked to industrial activities, wastewater treatment plants, landfills, or other contamination sources that warrant further investigation with a larger sample size. These results highlight the disproportionately distributed PFAS burdens among our sampled communities and demonstrate the value of integrating environmental monitoring, exposure modeling, and community engagement to inform equitable public health policies.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-7915

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