Examining Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid and Perfluorooctanoic Acid Levels in Drinking Water and Groundwater in the Milwaukee Area
Mentor 1
Anna Benko
Start Date
28-4-2023 12:00 AM
Description
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, are a group of about 4,700 different compounds. These compounds are of particular interest because of their tendency not to degrade in the environment over several years; they have been deemed “forever chemicals” because of this quality. These chemicals have been detected in water sources, food, land, and human blood. Because of their long lives, these chemicals bioaccumulate in humans and other living things. While there have not been any adverse effects of PFAS in humans at normal environmental levels, the bioaccumulation of these molecules could pose problems in the future especially since people drink water all their lives. PFAS can be linked with causing issues in the reproductive and immune systems of the body. More research needs to be done to explore all possible health issues related to PFAS. PFAS can be difficult to track through the environment as the main polluter can be unclear. Landfill leachate is a large contributor of environmental PFAS along with aqueous film forming foam as contaminants can flow into the groundwater and then into neighboring rivers, ponds, lakes, etc. This research aims to examine the levels of PFAS, specifically PFOS and PFOA, that are within the groundwater and drinking water in Milwaukee County and the surrounding counties. Samples have been pulled from areas located near landfills and airports and areas that are further from these types of locations in order to examine a broad spectrum of different water sources within the area. Reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography paired with mass spectrometry is used to determine the severity of the contamination. Higher levels of PFAS in these waters could mean more risk to the people that reside and work within the area, and more research still needs to be done on how to eliminate these contaminants from the environment safely.
Examining Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid and Perfluorooctanoic Acid Levels in Drinking Water and Groundwater in the Milwaukee Area
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, are a group of about 4,700 different compounds. These compounds are of particular interest because of their tendency not to degrade in the environment over several years; they have been deemed “forever chemicals” because of this quality. These chemicals have been detected in water sources, food, land, and human blood. Because of their long lives, these chemicals bioaccumulate in humans and other living things. While there have not been any adverse effects of PFAS in humans at normal environmental levels, the bioaccumulation of these molecules could pose problems in the future especially since people drink water all their lives. PFAS can be linked with causing issues in the reproductive and immune systems of the body. More research needs to be done to explore all possible health issues related to PFAS. PFAS can be difficult to track through the environment as the main polluter can be unclear. Landfill leachate is a large contributor of environmental PFAS along with aqueous film forming foam as contaminants can flow into the groundwater and then into neighboring rivers, ponds, lakes, etc. This research aims to examine the levels of PFAS, specifically PFOS and PFOA, that are within the groundwater and drinking water in Milwaukee County and the surrounding counties. Samples have been pulled from areas located near landfills and airports and areas that are further from these types of locations in order to examine a broad spectrum of different water sources within the area. Reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography paired with mass spectrometry is used to determine the severity of the contamination. Higher levels of PFAS in these waters could mean more risk to the people that reside and work within the area, and more research still needs to be done on how to eliminate these contaminants from the environment safely.
