Watershed Association to hold Panel on PFAS/PFOA

The Memphremagog Watershed Association (MWA) will hold a panel discussion on the Science and Monitoring of an emerging class of chemicals called PFAS/PFOA.
Pre- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are man-made chemicals that have been used for decades in the manufacturing of common household items like Teflon pans, fabric and furniture, and are also the by-product of some industrial processes. These chemicals are persistent in both humans and the environment and have been linked to human health problems.
Panelists are Appla Raju Badiredy, Ph.D. and Wenyu Zhu, Ph.D. of the University of Vermont Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Angela Slitt. Ph.D. of the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation geologist Jonathan Kim, Ph.D. of the Vermont Geological Survey, and Richard Spiese, hazardous sites project manager of the Waste Management and Prevention Division of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation. The moderator will be Charles Woods of Morgan, VT a retired biology professor and Department Chair of the University of Florida.
Dr Badiredy's latest projects include studies on fate and transport of PFAS in environmental systems, development of green nanomaterials and nano/membrane composites for PFAS remediation, innovative membrane anti-fouling strategies, bio-electrochemistry in biofilms on natural and engineered surfaces, and phosphorus removal and recovery strategies.

Dr Zhu's research focuses on occurrence and fate of emerging contaminants in the environment and the sustainable application of nanomaterials in environmental remediation.

Dr Kim's focus is on 3-D geological characterization of aquifers contaminated with PFOA. His presentation will summarize aquifer characterization work that has been completed for the Bennington PFOA project and is planned for the Rutland Airport AFFF project. PFOA can be introduced into the environment by deposition from the air or through "spills" onto the ground surface, where it infiltrates downward from the unsaturated zone to groundwater in the surficial and bedrock aquifers. Multi-disciplinary investigations that include physical (geologic mapping, spatial analysis of well driller reports, and geophysical logging) and chemical (major and trace element chemistry, stable isotopes, and recharge-ages) hydrogeology components are necessary to understand the complex fate and transport of PFOA.

Richard Spiese will discuss his work in Bennington and at the Vermont Air Guard Base PFOA projects as well as outlining the new Vermont sampling requirements for PFOA. Mr Spiese is on the board of the Interstate Technology Research Council (ITRC) and can describe the excellent information ITRC has developed for states developing policy related to PFAS

The This program is part of the MWA's annual meeting to be held on Friday, June 21 at the Gateway Center.
The business meeting begins at 5:30 p.m., with the panel discussion at 7 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

To help raise awareness of this emerging class of chemical and how common they are in our daily lives MWA is collecting household item the contain PFAS/PFOA and will be teaming with local artists to create a sculpture out of these items to be unveiled in late summer or early fall. Please bring items to the annual meeting or email us later. Items appropriate for this project are Teflon pans and utensils, fabrics or small furniture, empty paint or household cleaner containers