PFAS Forensics

PFAS Forensics

When per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination is allegedly found at or near a site, how can its origin be determined when there are so many possibilities? Is it from operations on the site, or is it coming from a nearby airport, fire-training station, manufacturing facility, landfill, incinerator, military base or even a neighboring farm due to the application of biosolids? These are important questions to ask because the sources of PFAS are more numerous than most people realize, and they are not always evident or obvious.

Our Team

Environmental Standards has assembled a Multi-disciplinary Team of senior scientific experts including Environmental Forensic Chemists, Groundwater Hydrologists, Geologists, and a Scientist with legal experience to research, develop a site-specific model, identify and “fingerprint” one or more of the PFAS sources. All key staff are experienced in litigation support including providing expert testimony and serving as fact witnesses. 

Capabilities

Our Multi-disciplinary Team, typically led by QA Chemists, is experienced in performing historical research of site and nearby operations, employing sophisticated forensic techniques, and interpreting standard and sophisticated forensic data to fingerprint the source(s) of the apparent PFAS contamination.  In determining a variety of site-specific approaches, Environmental Standards’ capabilities include:

• Reviewing historical data from the site and nearby operations
• Identifying additional site-specific compounds
• Comparing current PFAS signatures against known signatures from PFAS production processes
• Applying standard and more sophisticated targeted and non-targeted analysis
• Generating useful diagnostic ratios for evaluating trends, differences and similarities
• Utilizing innovative desktop software to evaluate laboratories’ raw analytical instrument data
• Applying routine and advanced statistical and spatial techniques for evaluating trends, differences and similarities

For more information on Environmental Standards’ PFAS Forensics capabilities, please contact David R. Blye, CEAC, or Rock J. Vitale, CEAC, at the Environmental Standards Valley Forge, Pennsylvania headquarters at 610.935.5577.