PFAS R&D Workshop

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), for the lay person, the name is equally difficult to spell as it is to enunciate. In recent years this group of human-made chemicals known as PFAS has attracted the attention of the public and the scientific community. In part because of growing concerns these substances may have a negative impact on humans and the environment. Solving this problem was the focus of researchers across the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) at a workshop held July 9-11 at Brookhaven National Laboratory and organized by the DOE Office of Science.

One goal of the PFAS Research and Development (R&D) Workshop was to develop an updated DOE PFAS Research Plan, a deliverable of the DOE PFAS Roadmap. The workshop was hosted by Bob Gordon, Manager of the Brookhaven Site Office, and featured speakers like Josh Silverman, of the Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security and the Departmental lead for PFAS coordination. Additional speakers included April Kluever from the DOE Office of Environmental Management, Susan Burden from the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Research and Development, and Kimberly Spangler and Andrea Leeson from the Department of Defense. Breakout sessions allowed National Laboratory researchers, Federal and non-Federal PFAS R&D organizations time to collaborate and identify DOE capabilities to address research gaps, establish research priorities for DOE when it comes to PFAS. There were discussions about how to address PFAS challenges at DOE sites and where funding may be available for future research to target PFAS clean up.