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 
• 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)

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

Chemicals Policy Team Leader, Environmental Quality Directorate, UK Government's 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 the UK Risk-Based Approach to PFAS Pollution and Remediation vs the US Regulatory-Driven Approach

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 Determining the Toxicological Effects of PFAS in Different Environments and the Implications of this for Human Health

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 FLUORO-SORB® Adsorbent, A Versatile Surface-Modified Clay Adsorbent for PFAS Removal

FLUORO-SORB® Adsorbent is highly effective at removing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from a variety of water types. The treatment media is referred to as a surface-modified clay and is made by loading bentonite clay with a modification agent that has a high affinity for PFAS, based on hydrophobic and electrostatic driving forces.  The modification agent is attached to the plate-like crystalline structure of the clay via cation exchange sites to form adsorptive inter-platelet layers or galleries. Exchangeable cations in the clay, like sodium and calcium, are replaced, thereby eliminating swelling when hydrated.  FLUORO-SORB® Adsorbent 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.  Cost comparisons show that FLUORO-SORB® Adsorbent provides superior PFAS removal at a favorable cost point, as compared to other adsorptive media.  Results from laboratory studies and field sites showing PFAS treatment in groundwater and drinking water will be presented.

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

5.50pm Closing Remarks from the Chair and close of conference