Webinar: EBC Annual Emerging Contaminants Seminar: PFAS – The Forever Chemical

Andrew Davis will present the session "PFAS and Due Diligence" during the Environmental Business Council of New England's virtual event, "Annual Emerging Contaminants Seminar: PFAS – The Forever Chemical."  

PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) are a diverse group of man-made chemicals that are resistant to heat, water, and oil. Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are the most commonly detected PFAS in humans, biota, and other environmental media, and are also the most commonly regulated PFAS.

An increasing number of studies performed globally indicate that PFAS are ubiquitous. Their persistence and ability to transport are of growing concern, as resistance to natural attenuation processes in groundwater results in long-distance migration in plumes, potentially affecting drinking water supplies. Health effects and toxicity are still not fully understood. The demand for PFAS testing and analysis has increased, and because of their ubiquitous nature, PFAS present both a sampling challenge and an important consideration in source attribution by regulators.

Seminar Co-Chairs

• Elizabeth Denly, Vice Chair, EBC TSCA and Emerging Contaminants Committee; Program Director, PFAS Group, TRC
• Steven LaRosa, Leadership Team, EBC TSCA and Emerging Contaminants Committee; Technical Lead, Weston & Sampson
• Frank Ricciardi, PE, LSP, Chair, EBC TSCA and Emerging Contaminants Committee; Vice President, Weston & Sampson

Speaker Agenda

History & Use of PFAS

• Linda Gaines, Environmental Health Scientist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

PFAS Forensics

• Mark Benotti, Senior Environmental Chemist, NewFields

Use and Disposal Challenges – Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF)

• Richard Spiese, Environmental Scientist, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation

 PFAS and Due Diligence

• Andrew Davis, Ph.D., Partner, Shipman & Goodwin LLP

Moderated Discussion

Moderators: Elizabeth Denly & Steve LaRosa

Panel Members:

• Mark Benotti, NewFields
• Andrew Davis, Ph.D., Shipman & Goodwin LLP
• Linda Gaines, U.S. EPA
• Richard Spiese, VTDEC