PFAS: The Persistent Environmental Issue

In manufacturing, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are well known. They have many applications, which have made our lives easier. Yet, they come with a price. PFAS are a class of man-made compounds that have made a huge impact on the environment and can cause adverse health effects. What began as a revolutionary discovery has turned into a persistent environmental issue.

What are PFAS?

The two core compounds of PFAS are perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). They were created by 3M and DuPont in the 1940s. PFOA was created by 3M, which gave us Teflon. PFOS was created by accident at DuPont when a chemist spilled it on his shoe, creating a coating that repels oil and water (Scotchgard). These compounds resist heat, moisture, and stains, and the applications are numerous. There are thousands of products that contain PFAS, including cookware, apparel, carpets, and cosmetics. However, the most notable product was firefighting foam (or aqueous film-forming foam). It was created by the Navy and 3M after the devastating USS Forrestal fire. While they are easily created, PFAS are harmful and hard to destroy.

PFAS can cause health problems as the compouds bioaccumulate or gradually build in humans. Some of the health issues linked to PFAS, include kidney cancer, thyroid disease and ulcerative colitis. Exposure to PFAS comes from a varity of sources including food packaging, drinking water, living organisms, household items and consumer goods.

Over the past 20 years, steps have been taken to reduce their use. Although certain first-generation PFAS have been phased out in the U.S., many overseas manufacturers still utilize them. The production of these consumer products has become a growing concern for landfills, which have become overloaded with waste containing PFAS. Regulators have yet to develop waste standards or guidelines for disposal.

Disposal Methods for PFAS

There are thousands of compounds in PFAS, which makes choosing a disposal method difficult. The EPA is currently researching various methods of disposal, particularly incineration, landfills, and injection wells. Incineration with temperatures above 1000 degrees centigrade looks to be the most effective method with 99% destruction; however, the process does not completely destroy all of the compounds and can be expensive, specifically for large quantities of PFAS waste. Consequently, after incineration PFAS molecules can break down into smaller byproducts, which can be released into the atmosphere. 

Landfills are a more economical disposal option. However, as rainfall percolates through landfill cells, PFAS can be transported and collected in leachate. The leachate becomes contaminated with the PFAS molecules and are treated via onsite wastewater plants, typically utilizing carbon filtration prior to discharge to local water bodies and publicly owned treatment works (POTWs). It’s important to note that Subtitle D landfills are still being evaluated by regulators as a disposal outlet for PFAS.

A third disposal method of PFAS waste is deep injection wells, which have the capacity to store large volumes of wastewater in a porous rock formation. Although there is a low risk of PFAS migrating into the environment, the limited number of available deep wells and their location makes them sometimes impractical as a viable disposal option for some generators.

EPA Gets Tough on PFAS

The numerous cases of environmental contamination and the documentation on the health effects of PFAS exposure has spurred the EPA to take action against these dangerous compounds. Over the last few years, EPA has been working on reducing the environmental impact of PFAS, which included creating guidelines for manufacturers/generators. Recently, EPA Administrator Michael Regan issued a memorandum calling for a new council on PFAS. The purpose of the EPA Council on PFAS (ECP) is to build upon the 2019 EPA PFAS Action Plan to get a better understanding of these chemicals and reduce the potential risks caused by them through an interagency approach, reaching all levels of government.

The “whole” EPA approach will ensure interagency coordination to achieve the goals outlined in the memorandum, including the “PFAS 2021 – 2025 – Safeguarding America’s Waters, Air and Land” strategy and leveraging funds to support cleanup of PFAS pollution. The ECP’s work will also build upon the actions taken by the Biden-Harris Administration to address these compounds. This is a great first step towards educating and bringing awareness of these dangerous chemicals to the public, and to get guidance from the EPA on creating solutions on how to manage this waste. Only time will tell if the actions of the ECP were effective.

Elk specializes in the transportation and disposal of hazardous waste, including PFAS. We work with guidelines set by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and EPA to safely transport and dispose of PFAS to approved disposal facilities. Contact us today to learn how we can help you manage your PFAS waste!