Data Evaluation Framework for Refining PFAS Conceptual Site Models

Contaminated sites with per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are the cause of environmental, health, and financial concerns. Understanding and addressing PFASs at their source areas is important for effective characterization, risk assessment, and remediation. This paper introduces a framewor...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ground water monitoring & remediation 2024-09, Vol.44 (4), p.53-66
Main Authors: Gamlin, Jeff, Newell, Charles J., Holton, Chase, Kulkarni, Poonam R., Skaggs, Jonathan, Adamson, David T., Blotevogel, Jens, Higgins, Christopher P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Availability
Construction standards
Family trees
Graphical representations
Pattern recognition
Perfluoroalkyl & polyfluoroalkyl substances
Perfluorochemicals
Risk assessment
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Summary:Contaminated sites with per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are the cause of environmental, health, and financial concerns. Understanding and addressing PFASs at their source areas is important for effective characterization, risk assessment, and remediation. This paper introduces a framework that relies on commonly available PFAS data to assist in identifying PFAS source areas and assess PFAS fate and transport considerations along flowpaths. Currently accepted PFAS physical and chemical behaviors have been incorporated into metrics that can be evaluated geospatially, and/or over time, to build a weight‐of‐evidence approach to refine conceptual site models (CSMs). Graphical representation of data according to a PFAS “family tree” is also proposed for more consistent interpretation and pattern recognition. Combined, these tools create a PFAS data evaluation framework (PFAS Framework) that consists of a tiered analysis approach based on data availability and site complexity. Case studies from real sites are presented to demonstrate the capabilities of the PFAS Framework in identifying source areas.
ISSN:1069-3629
1745-6592
DOI:10.1111/gwmr.12666