Industry experts discuss PFAS, a new class of emerging contaminants challenging those in the field

摘要

As nitrate and naturally occurring contaminants have presented long-standing concerns to groundwater professionals, a new class of emerging contaminants is providing a whole new set of challenges for those in the field. There are widespread reports of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) occurrences in groundwater and surface water. PFAS, a group of 4700-plus human-made chemicals in use since the 1940s, are found in a wide range of things such as firefighting foam, waterproof clothing, stain-proofing for carpets and upholstery, fast-food wrappers, and more. Their exposure has been linked to cancer, obesity, thyroid disease, immune system suppression, and endocrine system disruption.