PFOA/PFOS Ecological Monitoring

Overview:

• PFOA/PFOS environmental assessment
• Groundwater Investigation
• Soil and Sediment Investigation

Description:

On 1 January 2019, Bluestone acquired Avatar Environmental LLC. As a subcontractor to WestonSolutions, Bluestone (Avatar) collected, organized and evaluated data for the presence of PFOA in multiple physical and biological media on and surrounding the Confidential Client fluorochemical manufacturing facility in Decatur, Alabama. PFOA is a synthetic fluorochemical compound that has recently received significant attention because of its ubiquitous presence in the blood of adults and children throughout the U.S. This environmental assessment was conducted in response to a Memorandum of Understanding that was negotiated by EPA’s Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) and the Confidential Client. As part of an environmental assessment, primary data collected to support the human Exposure Assessment included soils, groundwater, surface water, sediment, and fish tissue. Ancillary data included freshwater bivalve tissue (Corbicula), vegetation, rodent (cotton rat, Sigmodon hispus) blood and liver. Primary data were used to evaluate the potential exposure of on-site workers, trespassers and recreational area (i.e., within the facility) users to PFOA. Offsite data were used to evaluate potential exposure of off-site residents to PFOA in soil and groundwater, recreational anglers to PFOA in fish, and boaters and users of select offsite recreational areas to PFOA in surface water, sediments and soil. Estimates for off-site exposure were made for both adults and children. The associated report “Screening Level Human Exposure Assessment” was critically reviewed by a Peer Consultation Group organized by EPA to evaluate the assessment for technical accuracy and sufficiency. The PCG commended Avatar for the accuracy and thoroughness of the assessment.