Community action is essential to stopping releases of dangerous PFAS chemicals into our environment and products. While regulatory agencies have been very slow to take actions, communities have organized to clean up sources and implement treatment.
Most attention to date has gone to firefighting foam and drinking water. However, rivers and streams are at risk and may transport PFAS widely. Moreover, wastewater treatment plants collect wastewater over wide areas and concentrate PFAS compounds in their effluents and leftover sludge also known as biosolids. Both can pollute communities.
The PFAS Sub-Team supports projects by local groups to conduct sampling and testing for surface waters and biosolids. We use testing kits designed for the public by commercial laboratories.
Team members work with people who want to consider testing in support of their local initiatives. Usually the team and the local community members work together to identify possible or likely sources of PFAS in rivers or lakes in the area of interest and on the selection of sampling spots. Local community members conduct the sampling and return test kits to the commercial laboratory. The team and the local community also usually collaborate on a write up to explain the concerns that led to the testing program, the reasons to select particular locations
Projects to date
We have supported testing projects in Alabama, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Oregon, and Tennessee .
We have contributed to testing projects in Michigan.
The PFAS Team sponsors surface water testing in communities.
These projects focus on testing of surface waters for PFAS chemicals using a commercial test kit.
Team members work with local Sierra Club chapters or volunteers on the design of these projects.
In most cases, the PFAS Team can provide six to ten test kits.
Team members and local volunteers pool their information to identify areas that may be affected by PFAS releases and locations for possible testing. Dates to collect samples are scheduled to meet the needs of the volunteers. Volunteers mail the completed testing kits back to the lab. Results are usually ready in a couple of weeks. For each project, community volunteers submit a simple report to explain what they did and why, what the results were, and what actions are needed.