Theme: 07. Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS)

Topic Area: 7n. PFAS Source and Forensic Considerations

Formatted Title:

Domestic Wastewater as a Potential Non-Point Source of PFAS Contamination in North America

Background/Objectives:

Tools for estimating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) releases from non-point sources to the environment have become critical as health-based guidance values for PFAS have become more stringent. Prior studies have detected PFAS in domestic wastewater, suggesting that household wastewater may be a diffuse source of PFAS to groundwater, specifically in unsewered areas where waste is treated via on-site septic systems, and to publicly-owned treatment works (POTWs). PFAS have been detected in numerous common personal care products (PCPs) that are often disposed of down household drains and may contribute to this potential source. The objectives of this work are: 1) to establish a method for assessment of potential PFAS contributions to domestic wastewater from common PCPs; and 2) to determine whether PCP disposal to domestic wastewater is a potentially quantifiable source of PFAS to the environment, via POTWs or septic systems, warranting further study. Preliminary findings were first presented at SETAC North America 44th Annual Meeting, and this is an expansion of that work.

Approach/Activities:

This work estimates the potential PFAS loading to North American septic systems from household PCP use by incorporating: 1) measurements of PFAS in example products as reported in the literature; and 2) "down-the-drain" household-use estimates for such products. The results are compared to measurements of PFAS in domestic wastewater in septic systems and in POTWs.

Results/Lessons Learned:

This work presents a method for estimating the contribution of a contaminant to domestic wastewater from common PCPs, which could be applied to a variety of emerging contaminants and products. The results indicate that the use of household PCPs, such as cosmetics and toiletries, in North America may result in the discharge of PFAS, especially fluorotelomer phosphate diesters and perfluorocarboxylic acids, to domestic wastewater and, ultimately, to on-site septic systems or off-site POTWs.

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Kathryn Zic