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Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Basics

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EREF has curated a regularly updated catalog of over 600 data-driven, PFAS related articles and content.

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The Basics of PFAS

What are PFAS?

PFAS are a group of compounds that are man-made and have been manufactured globally for more than 50 years.

Why are PFAS used?

PFAS are chemically and thermally stable and allows products to be stain-resistant, water-repellent, or nonstick.

Why is this a topic of interest for the industry as well as the public?

  • The widespread use of PFAS in consumer products and in industrial applications and their persistence in the environment has raised concerns about the management of these compounds. These compounds have also been reported to bioaccumulate.
  • PFAS are found in waste materials that are commonly managed at landfills therefore it is expected that these compounds would be detected in landfill leachate and gas.
  • Probable adverse health effects associated with PFAS (increased cholesterol levels, low infant birth weights, immune system effects, cancer, and thyroid hormone disruption) have been reported.

What are the management challenges?

  • Overall 5,000 different types of PFAS compounds have been manufactured and incorporated into products that are managed by the solid waste industry.
  • There are analytical challenges in detecting PFAS in landfills leachate and gas samples.
  • Conventional treatment processes are ineffective for the removal of PFAS in leachate. Activated carbon adsorption and membrane filtration are effective at removing PFAS but these compounds are transferred to a reject that still needs to be managed.

Additional Basic PFAS Info

Looking for general information on PFAS and the management issues surrounding these man-made compounds? EREF has created a brief presentation providing a basic overview of PFAS. Click here for a PDF with the presentation.