Addressing the Challenges of PFAS

ERG is a national leader in solving the many complex challenges associated with PFAS and supporting clients in making PFAS-related decisions. We accomplish this with integrated approaches and expertise from across our service areas, including Digital and Information Solutions, Drinking Water and Infrastructure, Ecological Services, Economic and Policy Analysis, Public Health, and Water Quality and Infrastructure. ERG’s PFAS clients include federal agencies (e.g., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Park Service, and U.S. Department of Defense), state agencies (e.g., Massachusetts, Arizona, and New Mexico), and international organizations (e.g., Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development). Our interdisciplinary PFAS work includes:

• PFAS Analytic Tools – ERG developed EPA’s first-ever repository of place-based PFAS records from all national-level data systems.
• PFAS Destruction and Disposal Guidance – ERG’s treatment technology and statutory program experts helped EPA’s agency-wide workgroup prepare PFAS destruction and disposal guidance mandated by Congress.
• Exposure Assessments – ERG conducted eight exposure assessments for CDC’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry that included exposure questionnaires, measurements of PFAS concentrations in the blood of more than 2,300 people exposed to PFAS-contaminated drinking water, and sampling of tap water and dust in a subset of participant homes.
• Reducing Wastewater Discharge of PFAS and Other Emerging Contaminants – For EPA, ERG is supporting formative research to characterize PFAS in industrial effluent across several industry categories and to evaluate treatment options.
• Treatment Options for Drinking Water Systems – For the state of New Mexico, ERG delivered a seminar to water system managers covering treatment options for removing PFAS from drinking water and management of PFAS in residuals.
• Surface Water and Fish/Shellfish Tissue Sampling – For the state of Massachusetts, ERG conducted statewide sampling of PFAS levels in surface water and fish in 52 rivers, lakes, and ponds and is now characterizing PFAS levels in saltwater fish, shellfish, and macroinvertebrates.
• PFAS Information for Clinicians – ERG helped ATSDR prepare updated PFAS informational materials for clinicians.