Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were detected in streams within agricultural areas (an often-unmeasured landscape) across Iowa. The data from this study provide one resource to understand the extent of PFAS concentrations in water resources from diverse landscapes throughout the United States.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) make up a class of compounds that have been used in many household and industrial products globally for decades. The properties that make them attractive for use also lead to public concern because many PFAS have been shown to persist in the environment or to degrade into less-understood PFAS byproducts.
To date (2022), most environmental research has been conducted near potential PFAS sources such as wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), airports, or military bases. Although research has documented multiple potential agriculture-related release pathways for PFAS (for example, biosolids and livestock manure), little environmental research exists on the prevalence of PFAS in small streams in agricultural regions of the United States.
To fill this gap, scientists conducted a statewide sampling of PFAS across a region of intense agricultural activity in Iowa. A set of 119 stream-water samples from 60 stream sites were collected across Iowa from June 2019 to January 2020 and analyzed for 34 PFAS.
The PFAS were detected in streams with and without documented sources of urban wastewater; however, sites with the greatest number of PFAS detected at the highest concentrations were small streams with identified WWTP discharges. The PFAS were detected in 19 of the 60 streams sampled (32 percent), with 10 different PFAS detected statewide. Concentrations of detected PFAS ranged from 1 to 134 nanograms per liter in this study and were in a similar range as those reported from a separate study of large rivers throughout the United States with diverse upstream land use that ranged from less than 1 to 501 nanograms per liter.
The data from this study of PFAS in Iowa streams provides a foundational resource to understand the extent of PFAS occurrence in water resources throughout the Nation. The information provides a resource for future research to address additional questions including: 1) what are the relative contributions of different PFAS sources in streams draining agricultural areas, 2) what is the degree to which instream attenuation (including dilution, volatilization, sorption to sediment, biodegradation via biofilms, and foam formation) is affecting instream PFAS concentrations, and 3) what, if any, are the adverse effects on exposed biota.
This study was supported by the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area’s, Environmental Health Program’s Food Resources Integrated Science Team and was conducted in collaboration with the University of Iowa Center for health Effects of Environmental Contamination.
The Environmental Health Program scientists are developing innovative techniques to reliably detect PFAS in water and tissue. They use this information to determine where exposure occurs in the environment, and if there are any adverse health effects for fish and wildlife exposed to PFAS. They are also measuring PFAS in drinking water at the tap to provide a resource that can be used to understand human exposure.
Listed below are related science articles
Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Integrated Science Team
Ecotoxicology and Ecological Risks of Per‐ and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Residential Tap Water: Source-to-Tap Science for Underserved Communities
No Adverse Reproductive Effects Observed in Tree Swallows Exposed to Perfluoroalkyl Substances in Clarks Marsh, Michigan
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) detected in Source Waters and Treated Public Water Supplies
Integrated science for the study of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment—A strategic science vision for the U.S. Geological Survey
Surface-water/groundwater boundaries affect seasonal PFAS concentrations and PFAA precursor transformations
Elevated concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking-water supplies are a major concern for human health. It is therefore essential to understand factors that affect PFAS concentrations in surface water and groundwater and the transformation of perfluoroalkyl acid (PFAA) precursors that degrade into terminal compounds. Surface-water/groundwater exchange can occur along
A comprehensive statewide spatiotemporal stream assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in an agricultural region of the United States
Public concern regarding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has grown substantially in recent years. In addition, research has documented multiple potential agriculture-related release pathways for PFAS (e.g., biosolids and livestock manure). Nevertheless, little research on the environmental prevalence of PFAS has been conducted in agricultural regions of the United States. To fill this g
Isolating the AFFF signature in coastal watersheds using oxidizable PFAS precursors and unexplained organofluorine
Water supplies for millions of U.S. individuals exceed maximum contaminant levels for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Contemporary and legacy use of aqueous film forming foams (AFFF) is a major contamination source. However, diverse PFAS sources are present within watersheds, making it difficult to isolate their predominant origins. Here we examine PFAS source signatures among six adja
Hillslope groundwater discharges provide localized ecosystem buffers from regional PFAS contamination in a gaining coastal stream
Emerging groundwater contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may impact surface-water quality and groundwater-dependent ecosystems of gaining streams. Although complex near-surface hydrogeology of stream corridors challenges sampling efforts, recent advances in heat tracing of discharge zones enable efficient and informed data collection. For this study we used a combinatio
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- Overview
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were detected in streams within agricultural areas (an often-unmeasured landscape) across Iowa. The data from this study provide one resource to understand the extent of PFAS concentrations in water resources from diverse landscapes throughout the United States.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) make up a class of compounds that have been used in many household and industrial products globally for decades. The properties that make them attractive for use also lead to public concern because many PFAS have been shown to persist in the environment or to degrade into less-understood PFAS byproducts.
Small stream running through an area with agricultural land use. To date (2022), most environmental research has been conducted near potential PFAS sources such as wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), airports, or military bases. Although research has documented multiple potential agriculture-related release pathways for PFAS (for example, biosolids and livestock manure), little environmental research exists on the prevalence of PFAS in small streams in agricultural regions of the United States.
To fill this gap, scientists conducted a statewide sampling of PFAS across a region of intense agricultural activity in Iowa. A set of 119 stream-water samples from 60 stream sites were collected across Iowa from June 2019 to January 2020 and analyzed for 34 PFAS.
The PFAS were detected in streams with and without documented sources of urban wastewater; however, sites with the greatest number of PFAS detected at the highest concentrations were small streams with identified WWTP discharges. The PFAS were detected in 19 of the 60 streams sampled (32 percent), with 10 different PFAS detected statewide. Concentrations of detected PFAS ranged from 1 to 134 nanograms per liter in this study and were in a similar range as those reported from a separate study of large rivers throughout the United States with diverse upstream land use that ranged from less than 1 to 501 nanograms per liter.
Many small farms in the Midwest also have confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs). The data from this study of PFAS in Iowa streams provides a foundational resource to understand the extent of PFAS occurrence in water resources throughout the Nation. The information provides a resource for future research to address additional questions including: 1) what are the relative contributions of different PFAS sources in streams draining agricultural areas, 2) what is the degree to which instream attenuation (including dilution, volatilization, sorption to sediment, biodegradation via biofilms, and foam formation) is affecting instream PFAS concentrations, and 3) what, if any, are the adverse effects on exposed biota.
This study was supported by the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area’s, Environmental Health Program’s Food Resources Integrated Science Team and was conducted in collaboration with the University of Iowa Center for health Effects of Environmental Contamination.
The Environmental Health Program scientists are developing innovative techniques to reliably detect PFAS in water and tissue. They use this information to determine where exposure occurs in the environment, and if there are any adverse health effects for fish and wildlife exposed to PFAS. They are also measuring PFAS in drinking water at the tap to provide a resource that can be used to understand human exposure.
- Science
Listed below are related science articles
Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Integrated Science Team
Increasing scientific and public awareness of the widespread distribution of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in U.S. drinking-water supplies, aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, wildlife, and humans has raised many public health and resource management questions that U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) science can inform. The USGS Environmental Health Program's PFAS Integrated Science Team...Ecotoxicology and Ecological Risks of Per‐ and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
Ecotoxicology and ecological risks of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are summarized to highlight critical gaps and uncertainties, and to provide potential approaches to fill those gaps, including the development of targeted monitoring programs and cross-disciplinary approaches.Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Residential Tap Water: Source-to-Tap Science for Underserved Communities
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were detected at low levels in treated drinking water samples from residential taps in the Greater Chicago Area. This study is part of a larger approach to provide an understanding of contaminant mixtures in residential tap water across the Nation including underserved communities in rural, urban, and tribal areas.No Adverse Reproductive Effects Observed in Tree Swallows Exposed to Perfluoroalkyl Substances in Clarks Marsh, Michigan
Perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) concentrations in tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) breeding at Clarks Marsh near a decommissioned U.S. Air Force base in Michigan were among the highest concentrations ever documented in birds indicating significant PFAS exposures. In contrast to previous studies where reproductive impairment was documented at lower PFAS exposure, there were no adverse effects on...Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) detected in Source Waters and Treated Public Water Supplies
This study, which measured 17 per- and polyfuoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in source and treated public water supplies from 25 drinking water facilities as part of a broader study of contaminants in drinking water across the United States, reports that PFASs were detected in all source water and public water supply samples collected. One sample exceeded the current U.S. Environmental Protection... - Publications
Integrated science for the study of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment—A strategic science vision for the U.S. Geological Survey
Concerns related to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in sources of drinking water and in natural and engineered environments have captured national attention over the last few decades. This report provides an overview of the science gaps that exist in the fields of study related to PFAS that are relevant to the U.S. Geological Survey mission and identifies opportunities where tAuthorsAndrea K. Tokranov, Paul M. Bradley, Michael J. Focazio, Douglas B. Kent, Denis R. LeBlanc, Jeff W. McCoy, Kelly L. Smalling, Jeffery A. Steevens, Patricia L. ToccalinoSurface-water/groundwater boundaries affect seasonal PFAS concentrations and PFAA precursor transformations
Elevated concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking-water supplies are a major concern for human health. It is therefore essential to understand factors that affect PFAS concentrations in surface water and groundwater and the transformation of perfluoroalkyl acid (PFAA) precursors that degrade into terminal compounds. Surface-water/groundwater exchange can occur along
AuthorsAndrea K. Tokranov, Denis R. LeBlanc, Heidi M. Pickard, Bridger J. Ruyle, Larry Barber, Robert B. Hull, Elsie M. Sunderland, Chad D. VecitisA comprehensive statewide spatiotemporal stream assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in an agricultural region of the United States
Public concern regarding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has grown substantially in recent years. In addition, research has documented multiple potential agriculture-related release pathways for PFAS (e.g., biosolids and livestock manure). Nevertheless, little research on the environmental prevalence of PFAS has been conducted in agricultural regions of the United States. To fill this g
AuthorsDana W. Kolpin, Laura E. Hubbard, D.M. Cwiertny, Shannon M. Meppelink, D.A. Thompson, James L. GrayIsolating the AFFF signature in coastal watersheds using oxidizable PFAS precursors and unexplained organofluorine
Water supplies for millions of U.S. individuals exceed maximum contaminant levels for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Contemporary and legacy use of aqueous film forming foams (AFFF) is a major contamination source. However, diverse PFAS sources are present within watersheds, making it difficult to isolate their predominant origins. Here we examine PFAS source signatures among six adja
AuthorsBridger J. Ruyle, Heidi M. Pickard, Denis R. LeBlanc, Andrea K. Tokranov, Colin P. Thackray, Xindi C. Hu, Chad D. Vecitis, Elsie M. SunderlandHillslope groundwater discharges provide localized ecosystem buffers from regional PFAS contamination in a gaining coastal stream
Emerging groundwater contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may impact surface-water quality and groundwater-dependent ecosystems of gaining streams. Although complex near-surface hydrogeology of stream corridors challenges sampling efforts, recent advances in heat tracing of discharge zones enable efficient and informed data collection. For this study we used a combinatio
AuthorsMartin A. Briggs, Andrea K. Tokranov, Robert B. Hull, Denis R. LeBlanc, A. Haynes, John W. LaneLandfill leachate contributes per-/poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and pharmaceuticals to municipal wastewater
Widespread disposal of landfill leachate to municipal sewer infrastructure in the United States calls for an improved understanding of the relative organic-chemical contributions to the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) waste stream and associated surface-water discharge to receptors in the environment. Landfill leachate, WWTP influent, and WWTP effluent samples were collected from three landfill-AuthorsJason R. Masoner, Dana W. Kolpin, Isabelle M. Cozzarelli, Kelly L. Smalling, Stephanie Bolyard, Jennifer Field, Edward T. Furlong, James L. Gray, Duncan Lozinski, Debra Reinhart, Alix Rodowa, Paul M. BradleyPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in plasma of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus)
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous, synthetic anthropogenic chemicals known to infiltrate and persist in biological systems as a result of their stability and bioaccumulation potential. This study investigated 15 PFAS, including short-chain carboxylic and sulfonic acids, and their presence in a threatened herbivore, the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus). Seven of theAuthorsKady Palmer, Jacqueline T. Bangma, Jessica L. Reiner, Robert K. Bonde, Jeffrey E. Korte, Ashley S. P. Boggs, John A. Bowden