This episode takes listeners into the world of PFAS – otherwise known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – which are types of man-made chemicals that have become a costly class of emerging contaminants worldwide. They are subject to increasing regulation by federal and state agencies as well toxic tort litigation, so it is important to know when to address these emerging contaminants as well as how to address them in the most efficient and cost-effective way.
Joe Picciotti, an attorney in the Harris Beach Environmental Law and Commercial Real Estate practice groups, and Vince Dick, a Principal Consultant responsible for environmental permitting and remediation programs at Haley & Aldrich, provide an overview. They touch on the history of PFAS, major uses, why they are an emerging contaminate of concern and what to do about it.
Follow along with the slides and notes below to complement the episode.
- 1:40 mark – slide #1 what are PFAS/PFOA
- 3:25 mark – slide #2 history of PFAS/PFOA
- 4:20 mark – slide #3 list of products
- 4:40 mark – slide #4 list of products cont’d
- 4:55 mark – slide #5 health concerns
- 5:15 mark – slide #6 health concerns cont’d
- 6:55 mark – slide #7 why do we care (why is issue of legal & enviro concern, costs, etc.)
- 12:17 mark – slide #8 states that have established advisory or regulatory levels
- 17:17 mark – slide #9 VT soil sample example of ubiquity
- 19:00 mark – slide #10 NH surface water results
- 19:30 mark – slide #11 NH surface water results cont’d
- 28:00 mark – slide #12 fingerprint slide
- 29:30 mark – slide #13 fingerprint slide cont’d
- 30:00 mark – slide #14 last fingerprint
- 30:35 mark – slide #15 example comparison of fingerprints from different sources