Formatted Title
AFFF, Wastewater Plants and Shellfish, Oh My! Preliminary PFAS Findings from a Complex Coastal System
Background/Objectives
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are chemicals of emerging global concern due to their adverse effects on human and environmental health. In New Hampshire’s Great Bay, they are of particular concern because of PFAS-containing fire-fighting foams used at the former Pease Air Force Base and other emerging sources, such as wastewater plants and other municipal sources. By understanding the PFAS compound profile in biotic versus abiotic matrices, we can better understand the uptake pathway of these contaminants from the environment into lower trophic level marine organisms. In this study, seven sites around Great Bay were sampled to investigate PFAS concentrations across different abiotic and biotic media in the estuarine environment including water, sediments, and biota.
Approach/Activities
We sampled water, sediments and five commonly collected bivalve species (Mya arenaria, Mytilus edulis, Ostrea edulis, Crassostrea virginica, Ensis leei) to evaluate risk from PFAS for recreational harvesters and potential uptake into biota. Chemical quantitation of 28 PFAS was completed by Clarkson University’s lab using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry. Of the five compounds (PFBS, PFHxS, PFOS, PFOA, and PFNA) for which there are human health screening levels for, concentrations of these PFAS in all species fell below the current screening thresholds. The only exception was for PFOS in Ensis leei, the Atlantic jackknife or razor clam, for which concentrations were significantly higher than the other species.
Results/Lessons Learned
This project has generated useful information about the occurrence of PFAS in a complex estuary system with multiple potential sources of PFAS. Additionally, through this presentation we plan to share valuable lessons about sample collection and preparation that are of relevance to site investigators and risk assessors that may need to evaluate complex and controversial PFAS sites in coastal systems. These results can better aid our understanding of bioaccumulation and biomagnification in marine systems to benefit future food web modeling and provide data for New Hampshire’s public health agencies and stakeholders.