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

Topic Area: 7n. PFAS Source and Forensic Considerations

Formatted Title:

PFAS in the Metals and Mining Industry: A Strong Bond to Clean Energy Technology

Background/Objectives:

The broad use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in performance chemicals and industrial processes have touched nearly every market sector and the mining & metals industry is no exception. As efforts are made to ramp up renewable energy usage, innovation in mining and production of metals will become increasingly important. PFAS may be irreplaceable components to these innovations, presenting a nuanced tradeoff for cleaner energy. For most environmental practitioners, current understanding of PFAS sources was built on the foundation of contamination associated with firefighting foams and fluoropolymer manufacturing. While familiar PFAS release mechanisms can exist at mines and metals processing facilities such as using aqueous film-forming foam, there are additional routes of PFAS to the environment including novel compounds and processes. Therefore, special considerations need to be explored about PFAS associated with the lifecycle of clean energy technology to ensure net positive environmental effects.

Approach/Activities:

This presentation will primarily pull together information from a broad literature review of recent publications related to the use of PFAS in the metals and mining industry. Specific applications and the distinct PFAS chemical characteristics will be presented. To evaluate general PFAS occurrence near mines, data will be evaluated from the publicly available PFAS datasets from the California Water Boards in relation to the location of the nearest registered mines. From that information and industry experience, key insights will be provided to prepare members of these industries for future PFAS investigation and potential remediation.

Results/Lessons Learned:

Although the focus of PFAS risk identification has primarily been in other sectors, PFAS is an emerging concern associated with mining and metals, supported by data showing occurrence of PFAS near mining sites and indications of novel PFAS being used in applications such as lithium-ion batteries. Several of these compounds fit within the general National Defense Authorization Act definition of PFAS but are not monitored as part of any standard laboratory analytical list. Other polyfluorinated organic compounds fall into the grey area of PFAS definitions that contain many fluorinated pharmaceuticals and biocides. As demand for metals continues to increase in support of clean energy technology, the role of PFAS and its associated risks will need to be better understood to inform policy and best management practices across the industry.

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Zachary Neigh