Barbara J Turpin - Implications of the use of PFAS

Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering Gillings School of Global Public Health University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used for their heat-, stain-, and water-resistant properties, but they are persistent, bioaccumulative, and associated with adverse health effects. While most PFAS research has focused on water, PFAS are also transported via air, where measurements remain scarce. This talk will describe our efforts to characterize airborne PFAS indoors and near manufacturing facilities, where they are most likely to influence human exposure. Using integrated sampling with LC/MS and GC/MS, we found elevated fluorotelomer alcohols and perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids downwind of a facility and in homes. Inhalation of neutral PFAS was the largest non-dietary contributor to residential exposure. Real-time chemical ionization mass spectrometry also shows promise for studying PFAS dynamics and occupational exposure.