PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Dr. Helena Solo-Gabriele
AFFILIATION: University of Miami, Dept. of Civil Arch. and Environ. Engineering CONTACT
INFORMATION: hmsolo@miami.edu, 305-284-3467
COPRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Dr. Timothy Townsend
AFFILIATION: University of Florida, Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences CONTACT
INFORMATION: ttown@ufl.edu, 352-392-0846
ABSTRACT
Per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) are found in consumer products that are stick and stain resistant such as Teflon, sealants, textiles, and paper products. PFASs are also known to affect human health. They are linked to thyroid and liver diseases, diseases of the immune system, and cancer. Given their wide ranging usage in consumer products and their long-term environmental persistence, landfills represent a logical end-of-service-life reservoir where PFASs can be ultimately removed from the environment to minimize subsequent human health impacts. Recent prior research supported through the Hinkley Center with in-kind support through the U.S. EPA has shown that PFASs are released in the leachates from landfills in Florida. However, no work has yet been done to quantify the amount of PFAS found in landfill storm water and groundwater. In addition, a mass balance analysis is lacking to quantify how much PFAS (kilograms per unit time) is released at landfills, through leachate, storm water, and groundwater. The objectives of this proposal are to: a) expand the sampling program for PFAS to include additional PFAS species in leachates plus the inclusion of storm water and groundwater at landfills, and b) conduct a mass balance analysis of PFAS at landfills using a readily-available landfill modeling software combined with PFAS measurement data. The results will be used to focus efforts in terms of treatment of potential water sources at landfills that carry PFAS.
