EPA Research Partner Support Story: Sharing latest advances in PFAS destruction research and technologies
Partner: Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART)
Challenge: Limited understanding of technologies for the ultimate disposal of PFAS waste
Resource: Quarterly meetings with MPART members and EPA scientists to share the latest advances in PFAS destruction research and technologies
Project Period: 2020 – 2021
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a very large class of man-made chemicals that include PFOA, PFOS and GenX chemicals and are found in everyday items such as food packaging, non-stick stain repellent, waterproof products, and firefighting applications. PFAS can enter the environment through production or waste streams and can be very persistent in the environment and the human body. PFAS have many and varied pathways into waste streams, presenting challenges for ultimate disposal. Determining the appropriate method for ultimate disposal of PFAS wastes is a complex issue due to their volatility, solubility, and environmental mobility and persistence. EPA is currently considering multiple disposal techniques, including incineration and novel non-thermal ways, to effectively treat and dispose of PFAS waste.
“We are pleased to partner with EPA ORD in identifying and evaluating treatment technologies that break the cycle of PFAS recirculating in the environment. This collaboration is an excellent opportunity to combine ORD’s leading-edge technical research with the data being generated from Michigan’s ongoing field work to address PFAS contamination and will help guide our collective efforts to identify and test the most effective treatment solutions.” – MPART Executive Director Steve Sliver (retired)
From 2020 – 2021, EPA ORD and the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) held regular meetings for MPART members and EPA ORD scientists to share the latest advances in PFAS destruction research and technologies. These calls helped align EPA’s research programs with state needs related to PFAS. EPA ORD was pleased to partner with MPART and others on the Innovative Ways to Destroy PFAS Challenge to discover new non-thermal technologies and approaches that can remove PFAS in unused aqueous film forming foam (AFFF), without creating any harmful byproducts.
MPART is an interagency workgroup established in 2019 consisting of members from Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy; Department of Health and Human Services; Department of Agriculture and Rural Development; Department of Natural Resources; Department of Transportation; Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs; and Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.