Improving Understanding and Coordination of Science Activities for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Issue: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been manufactured and used in a variety of industries in the United States since the 1940s. PFAS are ubiquitous and persistent in the environment and have the potential to have adverse human and ecological health effects. The Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) partnerships has concerns about how PFAS will affect the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. The CBP Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) hosted a workshop in 2022 to better understand the state of the science, improve science coordination, and propose approaches to improve our knowledge of PFAS.
Objectives of the PFAS workshop
The STAC workshop was held May 17-18 and gathered speakers from Chesapeake Bay jurisdictions, federal agencies, and academic institutions, including representatives from across the Nation. The specific objectives of the workshop were:
- Summarize current understanding of sources, occurrence, and fate of PFAS,
- Identify current efforts and approaches to inform the potential effects on fish and wildlife, and their consumption by humans,
- Consider study designs, and comparable sampling and analysis methods, for a more coordinated PFAS science effort,
- Identify key research needs/data gaps and actionable recommendations associated with better understanding potential effects on fish, wildlife, and their consumption as an impact on human health.
The findings and recommendations from the workshop have been summarized in a STAC report, which was led by the U.S. Geological Survey, and released in March 2023.
Findings of the Report
The workshop report summarizes the current understanding of sources, occurrence, and fate of PFAS and identifies on-going efforts and approaches to inform the potential effects on fish and wildlife, and their consumption by humans. The report provides overarching guidance for research and monitoring to address science gaps, foster communication and collaboration, to help stakeholders better coordinate PFAS efforts to ensure data comparability across the entire Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
Science Gaps
The 10 science gaps identified by the workshop participants are organized by priority need and listed below:
|
Science gap category (SG) |
Description |
Suggested timeframe to address gap |
|---|---|---|
|
SG1: Source, fate, and occurrence |
Temporal and spatial assessment of PFAS occurrence in tributaries, including first order streams, to determine where loadings are coming from with an emphasis on both point and nonpoint sources |
Urgent, short-term |
|
SG2: Exposure and bioaccumulation |
Coupled fish and surface water samples to develop species-specific bioaccumulation factors (“early warning system”), including more regional studies to related surface water and tissue PFAS concentrations across a range of species using standardized methods |
Urgent, short-term |
|
SG3: Fish consumption |
Development of a uniform bioconcentration factor approach regionally between the states to drive fish consumption advisories |
Near-term |
|
SG4: Ecological effects |
Information on effects of PFAS on different life stages of fisheries in estuarine and freshwater systems |
Near-term |
|
SG5: Ecological effects |
Studies addressing the biological effects of PFAS at lower concentrations |
Near-to mid-term |
|
SG6: Exposure and bioaccumulation |
Studies directly designed to address food chain/ biomagnification of PFAS |
Near-to mid-term |
|
SG7: Source, fate, and occurrence |
Better understanding of what land uses are most likely to contribute to PFAS detections and whether that information can be used to predict occurrence, delivery, and load |
Near-to mid-term |
|
SG8: Ecological effects |
Cumulative effects of PFAS and other contaminant and biological stressors on aquatic species, synergistic effects that have the potential to enhance the risk of PFAS |
Long-term |
|
SG9: Ecological effects |
Studies specifically designed to provide information on chronic toxicity for larval oysters and blue crabs with an emphasis on long-term exposures |
Long-term |
|
SG10: Ecological effects |
Emphasize/prioritize more studies directly assessing the interface between the aquatic and terrestrial environments (e.g., ducks and other avian species) |
Long-term |
Actionable Recommendations
Six actionable recommendations were identified by the workshop participants, each recommendation was organized by the science gap or gaps they filled and were subsequently binned by the steering committee into three overarching themes:
Theme 1: Communicate and collaborate
|
|
Theme 2: Study design and approaches
|
|
Theme 3: Consistency in data collection
|
Implications and Next Steps
The recommendations are being considered by the CBP partnership with leadership from the Toxic Contaminant Workgroup (TCW). The TCW has increased focus on PFAS: Toxic Contaminants Workgroup
The U.S. Geological Survey is conducting research on toxic contaminants and their effects on fish and wildlife in the Chesapeake Watershed, which include studies of PFAS: Fish Health and Toxic Contaminants
For more information
The report has been released and posted by STAC:
Smalling, K.L., Lorah, M., Allen, G., Blaney, L., Cantwell, M., Fowler, L., Ihde, T., Mank, M., Majcher, E., Onyullo, G. and Phillips, S., 2023. Improving Understanding and Coordination of Science Activities for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. STAC Publication Number 23-002, Edgewater, MD. 58 pp.
This research was recently featured in one of the monthly Chesapeake Research Consortium (CRC) webinars. Both Kelly Smalling and Emily Majcher presented during the webinar. The recording of that seminar is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVrXWMHXi-E&t=862s.
The workshop is described at Improve the Understanding and Coordination of Science Activities for PFAS in the Chesapeake Watershed.
The STAC provides scientific and technical guidance to the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) on measures to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay, for more information: https://chesapeake.org/.
Issue: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been manufactured and used in a variety of industries in the United States since the 1940s. PFAS are ubiquitous and persistent in the environment and have the potential to have adverse human and ecological health effects. The Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) partnerships has concerns about how PFAS will affect the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. The CBP Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) hosted a workshop in 2022 to better understand the state of the science, improve science coordination, and propose approaches to improve our knowledge of PFAS.
Objectives of the PFAS workshop
The STAC workshop was held May 17-18 and gathered speakers from Chesapeake Bay jurisdictions, federal agencies, and academic institutions, including representatives from across the Nation. The specific objectives of the workshop were:
- Summarize current understanding of sources, occurrence, and fate of PFAS,
- Identify current efforts and approaches to inform the potential effects on fish and wildlife, and their consumption by humans,
- Consider study designs, and comparable sampling and analysis methods, for a more coordinated PFAS science effort,
- Identify key research needs/data gaps and actionable recommendations associated with better understanding potential effects on fish, wildlife, and their consumption as an impact on human health.
The findings and recommendations from the workshop have been summarized in a STAC report, which was led by the U.S. Geological Survey, and released in March 2023.
Findings of the Report
The workshop report summarizes the current understanding of sources, occurrence, and fate of PFAS and identifies on-going efforts and approaches to inform the potential effects on fish and wildlife, and their consumption by humans. The report provides overarching guidance for research and monitoring to address science gaps, foster communication and collaboration, to help stakeholders better coordinate PFAS efforts to ensure data comparability across the entire Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
Science Gaps
The 10 science gaps identified by the workshop participants are organized by priority need and listed below:
|
Science gap category (SG) |
Description |
Suggested timeframe to address gap |
|---|---|---|
|
SG1: Source, fate, and occurrence |
Temporal and spatial assessment of PFAS occurrence in tributaries, including first order streams, to determine where loadings are coming from with an emphasis on both point and nonpoint sources |
Urgent, short-term |
|
SG2: Exposure and bioaccumulation |
Coupled fish and surface water samples to develop species-specific bioaccumulation factors (“early warning system”), including more regional studies to related surface water and tissue PFAS concentrations across a range of species using standardized methods |
Urgent, short-term |
|
SG3: Fish consumption |
Development of a uniform bioconcentration factor approach regionally between the states to drive fish consumption advisories |
Near-term |
|
SG4: Ecological effects |
Information on effects of PFAS on different life stages of fisheries in estuarine and freshwater systems |
Near-term |
|
SG5: Ecological effects |
Studies addressing the biological effects of PFAS at lower concentrations |
Near-to mid-term |
|
SG6: Exposure and bioaccumulation |
Studies directly designed to address food chain/ biomagnification of PFAS |
Near-to mid-term |
|
SG7: Source, fate, and occurrence |
Better understanding of what land uses are most likely to contribute to PFAS detections and whether that information can be used to predict occurrence, delivery, and load |
Near-to mid-term |
|
SG8: Ecological effects |
Cumulative effects of PFAS and other contaminant and biological stressors on aquatic species, synergistic effects that have the potential to enhance the risk of PFAS |
Long-term |
|
SG9: Ecological effects |
Studies specifically designed to provide information on chronic toxicity for larval oysters and blue crabs with an emphasis on long-term exposures |
Long-term |
|
SG10: Ecological effects |
Emphasize/prioritize more studies directly assessing the interface between the aquatic and terrestrial environments (e.g., ducks and other avian species) |
Long-term |
Actionable Recommendations
Six actionable recommendations were identified by the workshop participants, each recommendation was organized by the science gap or gaps they filled and were subsequently binned by the steering committee into three overarching themes:
Theme 1: Communicate and collaborate
|
|
Theme 2: Study design and approaches
|
|
Theme 3: Consistency in data collection
|
Implications and Next Steps
The recommendations are being considered by the CBP partnership with leadership from the Toxic Contaminant Workgroup (TCW). The TCW has increased focus on PFAS: Toxic Contaminants Workgroup
The U.S. Geological Survey is conducting research on toxic contaminants and their effects on fish and wildlife in the Chesapeake Watershed, which include studies of PFAS: Fish Health and Toxic Contaminants
For more information
The report has been released and posted by STAC:
Smalling, K.L., Lorah, M., Allen, G., Blaney, L., Cantwell, M., Fowler, L., Ihde, T., Mank, M., Majcher, E., Onyullo, G. and Phillips, S., 2023. Improving Understanding and Coordination of Science Activities for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. STAC Publication Number 23-002, Edgewater, MD. 58 pp.
This research was recently featured in one of the monthly Chesapeake Research Consortium (CRC) webinars. Both Kelly Smalling and Emily Majcher presented during the webinar. The recording of that seminar is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVrXWMHXi-E&t=862s.
The workshop is described at Improve the Understanding and Coordination of Science Activities for PFAS in the Chesapeake Watershed.
The STAC provides scientific and technical guidance to the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) on measures to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay, for more information: https://chesapeake.org/.