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May 13, 2022

Date: May 20, 2022 from 2:00-2:30 p.m. Eastern time

Speaker: Jeffrey Steevens, Columbia Environmental Resources Center

Title: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): Environmental consequences of the C-F bond.

Brief description: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have recently received significant attention as a potential risk to human health and the environment. PFAS have been used in a variety of applications as a flame retardant and in numerous consumer products. One challenge is that PFAS include thousands of different compounds with wide ranging chemical properties. The environmental fate and effects of PFAS are poorly understood and there is significant interest in understanding the presence of these compounds in the environment. This presentation will provide an overview of USGS research on the exposure, bioaccumulation, and ecotoxicity of these chemicals.

Diagram showing per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) movement in the environment.
Mechanisms of PFAS fate transport and exposure in the environment. Published in a USGS document  Image created by Jacqueline Olsen at USGS for IPDS number is IP-120645

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