Event programme

The times below are in BST.

2.00pm Welcome from Environment Analyst

2.05pm Opening Remarks from the Chair:

Ian Ross, PFAS Global Practice Leader, CDM Smith

2.10pm Regulatory Update

• Detailing progress on the EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap and a whole-of-agency approach to tackling PFAS 
• Update on the EPA’s proposed drinking water standards 
• Outlining use of the EPA Analytic Tools in developing a better understanding of PFAS sources and risks

Matt Klasen, PFAS Council Manager, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Michael Barrette, Integration Targeting and Access Branch Supervisor, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• Update on the Chemical Strategy
• Update on the outcomes of the recent Regulatory Management Options Analysis (RMOA) and proposed recommendations

Edward Latter, Chemicals Policy Team Leader, UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

• Outlining current and planned monitoring approaches and strategies for assessing PFAS in the environment

Alun James, Chief Scientist’s Group, UK Environment Agency

• EU-wide restriction proposal for PFAS: Detailing the details of the PFAS restriction proposal that has been prepared and submitted jointly by five European countries in the framework of the EU REACH Regulation and explanation of the next steps in the process

Dr Frauke Averbeck, Scientific Officer, Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health - Federal Office for Chemicals, Germany

3.30 Characterizing PFAS in California

State-wide investigative orders have been issued to target known sources or secondary sources of PFASs (i.e. airports, landfills, chrome platers, publicly owned treatment works, bulk fuel terminals, refineries) and nearby public water supply wells. These orders were implemented using conventional analytical testing methods and the investigation results have provided invaluable data and an understanding of the magnitude of the issue for targeted PFAS analytes. A limited supplemental investigation involved the use of unconventional, broad spectrum analytical testing methods including absorbable organofluorine and non-targeted analysis with high-resolution mass spectrometry. The findings reveal elevated concentrations of non-targeted PFAS analytes and highlights the present challenge to characterize the full scope of the problem given the extensive use of a wide array of PFASs in industrial processes and residential and commercial products. 

Moving forward, State Water Board plans to continue efforts to identify and characterize the total occurrence of PFAS in our water resources using broad-spectrum analytical testing methods and expand the statewide PFAS investigation activities to include watershed characterization and assessment. 

Daniel Newton, PE, Assistant Deputy Director, California State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Drinking Water

3.50pm Evaluating International Approaches to PFAS Contamination, Assessment and Remediation

A panel of industry experts will discuss different international approaches to PFAS contamination, funding mechanisms for monitoring and clean-up, and possible ways forward with regards to the risk assessment and remediation of contaminants.

Panellists:

Shalene Thomas, SVP, Global Emerging Contaminants, WSP

Eric S. Wood, Principal & Global Director, Emerging Contaminants, Ramboll

4.20pm Short Comfort Break

4.30pm Toxicological Investigations of PFAS and Implications for Human Health

• Exploring what human health risks have arisen from epidemiological and toxicological studies of PFAS
• Determining what additional toxicological data are needed to move risk management approaches forward

Dr. Jamie DeWitt, Professor, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University

4.45pm PFAS Measurement and Upcoming US Regulation: A Laboratory Perspective 

• Current and upcoming trends in PFAS measurement, and the state of official PFAS methods
• A laboratory perspective on the recent Maximum Contaminant Limit (MCL) proposal for 6 specific PFAS from the EPA

Dr Bharat Chandramouli, Senior Scientist, SGS

5.00pm Q&A

Innovative Remediation Solutions

This session will explore different approaches being taken for PFAS contaminated sites, including novel removal and destruction techniques, as well as technologies being researched and developed globally, with practical examples of their application. 

5.10pm Fighting Against Forever Chemicals – Novel Approaches to Separate and Destroy PFAS

Separating PFAS from water and ultimately degrading them into products that lack carbon-fluorine bonds will be important for decontaminating our water resources. Yet conventional treatment methods have critical deficiencies, such as low affinity toward short-chain PFAS, and are impacted by background organic and inorganic constituents. The recent advancements in the development of PFAS-selective adsorbents now offer the possibility of short- and long-chain PFAS treatment using regenerable sorbents such as cyclodextrin polymers and amine-functionalized materials. 

However, currently available data shows the treatment of PFAS-impacted waters will necessitate a treatment train approach. Such tandem-mode setups would consist of a separation step (e.g., adsorption or nanofiltration) followed by a destruction process applied to the adsorbents, retentate, and/or regeneration solutions. This talk will cover some of the emerging technologies that show promise to solve some of these challenges.

Dr. Mohamed Ateia Ibrahim, Environmental Engineer & Group Leader, Office of Research and Development,  US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

5.25 Optimized Drinking Water Treatment System Design for PFAS removal with FLUORO-SORB® Adsorbent, A Versatile Surface-Modified Clay Adsorbent

FLUORO-SORB® Adsorbent is highly effective at removing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from a variety of water types. The media has been investigated in the laboratory and field for removal of PFAS to non-detect levels and has high PFAS adsorption capacity, fast PFAS adsorption kinetics, and low to no impact of co-contaminants in the water influent. CETCO is partnering with ChartWater / Chart Industries to provide state-of-the-art and cost-effective drinking water treatment systems. Customers are provided a complete treatment package by a team of experts in PFAS adsorption media, pre-treatment, and flexible filtration system design. This unique collaboration provides a cost-effective solution to PFAS contamination. Results from laboratory studies and field sites showing PFAS treatment in drinking water and cost analysis will be presented.

Anna Willett, PE, Global Technical Services Manager, CETCO, a Minerals Technologies Company

Dr Ronit Erlitzki, Director of Strategic Business Development and Innovation, Chart Industries

5.40pm Q&A

5.50pm Closing Remarks from the Chair and close of conference