Five Things You Need to Know About PFAS and How to Effectively Treat These Chemicals
PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” have been around for more than half a century, but have recently started making headlines for the harm they cause to the environment and to human health. PFAS are seemingly everywhere and in everything, so now the big question is: how do we get rid of them?
In this article, we break down everything you need to know about PFAS, the best way to remove them, and why the time to act is NOW.
1. What Are PFAS?
Per and Polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are a group of highly-soluble, manufactured chemicals that have been used widely both industrially and commercially since the 1940s. There are thousands of types of PFAS, including PFOA, PFNA, PFOS, and GenX, which makes the full scope of their impact difficult to understand.
PFAS take an exceptionally long time to break down because of their carbon-flourine bond, which is why they are sometimes called “forever chemicals.” The strength of that bond also leads to accumulation and build-up of PFAS over time.
Some common uses for PFAS are in fire-fighting foam, also known as aqueous film-forming foams (or AFFFs), at airports and refineries, and in fertilizer. However, there are also many household products that contain PFAS, like non-stick pans, cleaning products, clothing, and food packaging. PFAs can even be found in dental floss and shampoo.
2. The Risks PFAS Pose to Environmental and Human Health
We’ve established just how prevalent PFAS are in products, but the issue is that they’re also present in soil, water, animals, produce — and humans. People can be exposed to PFAs in many ways, such as through the air, eating contaminated animals or drinking contaminated water, working in occupations that deal with PFAS, and using household products that contain PFAS.
While low levels of exposure are common, studies have shown that high levels of exposure to PFAS may be significantly hazardous to human health with impacts to fertility, developmental delays, and increased risk of asthma and cancers — just to name a few.
Though, as consumers, we can make choices that will help us reduce PFA exposure, the matter becomes much more difficult when it comes to PFAS that are in the environment. PFAS are present in the environment due to several reasons: their general prevalence and build-up throughout the world, contamination from industrial sites that use and/or manufacture PFAS, and through the disposal of products that contain PFAS.
When products with PFAS are discarded into landfills, the toxins run-off and seep into the soil and nearby water sources. The usual landfill treatment processes are ineffective when it comes to removing PFAs, and the same goes for wastewater treatment plants. Unfortunately, this creates a cycle in which the treated water sometimes goes back into agriculture, and finds its way into our homes.
3. What’s Currently Being Done to Treat Areas Contaminated by PFAS
In 2021, the EPA created a Council on PFAS and announced a PFAS Strategic Roadmap later that year. Over the next several years, we can expect to see developments and changes to many things pertaining to PFAS.
One of the council’s actions was to set key goals when it comes to approaching the problem of PFAS: Research, Restrict, Remediate. The third of those options, “remediate,” will aim to prioritize the clean-up of PFAS to better protect people and the environment, but the clean-up of PFAS isn’t so simple.
The reason that PFAS are present in so many industrial and commercial products is the same reason that they can be so hard to destroy: they’re oil and water repellent, and can resist other chemicals and high temperatures.
Some current methods of PFAS treatment are excavation with landfilling or incineration, but both are unsustainable and expensive. Soil stabilization with carbon-based sorbents is another option, but it’s non-destructive, which leaves long-term liability. Soil washing can be effective, but it results in additional waste that needs treatment.
4. Why Iron Creek Group’s Technology is the Best Application for PFAS Treatment
Our Zero Oxygen Conduction Technology, also known as Tech Zero, is a sustainable, affordable, and safe solution when it comes to eliminating PFAS. The patented technology is proven to eliminate 99% of PFAS contaminants and can be mobilized for on-site, same-day operation.
Tech Zero works by utilizing infrared heat to treat the contaminated soil or sludges — the conduction, convection, oxidation and vaporization methods provide whole-site remediation. The indirect-fired thermal process maximizes heat recovery, which makes it as efficient as possible, and the minimal amount of emissions produced makes it more sustainable than any other option in the remediation industry. Tech Zero reduces the liability associated with offsite trucking, handling and incineration, while providing an opportunity to reuse the treated soil.
Iron Creek Group’s Tech Zero works at scale. Since 2018, it has been actively engaged with the US Air Force and US Navy teams, successfully conducting PFAS pilot projects.
5. What’s Next with PFAS and Cleaning Contaminated Areas?
In 2023, the EPA’s Office of Land and Emergency Management will release updated guidance on disposing and destroying PFAS, based on public commentary and ongoing research. Until then, and for years to follow, you can be sure that the conversations, government action, and need to eradicate PFAS toxins will only increase.
Remediate further environmental harm through PFAS contamination as soon as possible. PFAS are everywhere and removing them from the soil and groundwater in an efficient, sustainable way isn’t just important, it’s critical.
About Iron Creek Group
Serving North America, Iron Creek Group is an award-winning, innovative thermal soil remediation company that specializes in the thermal treatment of the most difficult wastes in the most challenging locations. Founded in 2015 by a team of environmental experts with vast backgrounds in waste removal, recycling and soil remediation, the group specializes in alternative soil remedial technologies that are proven, predictable, environmentally-friendly and cost effective. Learn how they’re leveraging technology to challenge the existing thermal remediation paradigm by visiting, https://www.ironcreekgroup.com
For questions and further information, please email Ken Bell: ken@ironcreekgroup.com.