Procedures for PFAS Concerned Sites

What are PFAS?

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemicals that includes PFOA, PFOS and many other chemicals. PFAS have been manufactured and used in a variety of industries around the globe, including in the United States since the 1940s. PFOA and PFOS have been the most extensively produced and studied of these chemicals. Both chemicals are very persistent in the environment and in the human body – meaning they don’t break down and they can accumulate over time. There is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse health effects.

Where are PFAS?

·       Food packaged in PFAS-containing materials, processed with equipment that used PFAS, or grown in PFAS-contaminated soil or water.

·       Commercial household products, including stain- and water-repellent fabrics, nonstick products (e.g., Teflon®), polishes, waxes, paints, cleaning products, and fire-fighting foams (a major source of groundwater contamination at airports and military bases where firefighting training occurs).

·       Workplace, including production facilities or industries (e.g., chrome plating, electronics manufacturing or oil recovery) that use PFAS.

·       Drinking water, typically localized and associated with a specific facility (e.g., manufacturer, landfill, wastewater treatment plant, firefighter training facility).

·       Living organisms, including fish, animals and humans, where PFAS have the ability to build up and persist over time.

Because of the low detection limits usually called for in a PFAS site investigation (ng/L or ng/kg) and the presence of PFASs in many products used in environmental work, the potential exists for the presence of certain commonly used materials on site or in equipment employed during the investigation to introduce sample contamination. Preserving sample integrity thus may require a careful evaluation of ordinary supplies and practices, followed by determination of materials and activities to avoid or prohibit on site.

 We realize that it is extremely important that our office and field take extra precautions to ensure our supplies, materials and actions on site do not inadvertently introduce PFAS contamination to any field investigation.  We have outlined the following procedures to be followed for every project where a potential for PFAS impact has been identified. 

 Some Potential Sources of PFAS Cross-contamination:

·       Field clothing

·       Food packaging

·       Materials used within the sampling environment

·       Other items/materials brought to the site

·       Personal hygiene/ care products

·       PPE

·       Sampling equipment

·       Sun screen/ Bug spray

·       The environment itself

·       Water used for drilling/decontamination

Elimination of PFAS from Materials/Supplies

On-site Environmental Services, Inc. (OES) has taken action to identify equipment, materials, supplies, clothing and PPE that may contain PFAS.  We have consulted with our regular vendors regarding potential PFAS in materials or equipment provided to us by those vendors, including:

·       Geoprobe, Inc.

·       Hole Products

·       IES Drilling Supplies

Based on the available information provided by these vendors, the supplies we use regularly, including the packaging and shipping of those supplies, were all reported to be PFAS-free.

Drill Rig Equipment:

The majority of our drilling equipment has internal components that cannot be removed which may contain PFAS.  However, these are typically located in areas that would not come into contact with samples collected during the drilling process. 

Known Materials Containing PFAS

OES is committed to not knowingly using any equipment/materials containing PFAS.  Restricted items include, but are not limited to, the following:

·       PTFE (Polytetrafluorethylene)

  • Teflon®, Hostaflon®

·       PVDF (Polyvinylidene fluoride)

  • Kynar®

·       PCTFE (Polychlorotrifluorethylene)

  • Neoflon®

·       ETFE (Ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene)

  • Tefzel®

·       FEP (Fluorinated ethylene propylene)

  • Teflon® FEP, Hostaflon® FEP, Neoflon®

The following are generally allowable, but should be verified to be PFAS-free:

·       Acetate

·       Glass

·       HDPE (High-density polyethylene)

·       Latex

·       LDPE (Low-density polyethylene)

·       Natural rubber

·       Neoprene

·       Nylon

·       Polypropylene

·       Polyurethane

·       Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

·       Powderless Nitrile gloves

·       Silicone

·       Stainless-steel

·       Uncoated Tyvek®


Field Protocols

Field staff will not use cosmetics, shampoo, lotions, dental floss the day of sampling activities.

Allowable Clothing/ Shoes/ Personal Items/ PPE:

·       Banana Boat Sport Performance Broad Spectrum – SPF 30

·       Boots made of PVC and/or Polyurethane (if not possible, wear PFAS-free overboots)

  • Put on overboots and wash hands in staging area before beginning sampling activities

  • Remove overboots only in staging area after sampling activities are complete

·       Coppertone Sport – High Performance Accuspray SPF 30

·       Deep Woods OFF

·       Neoprene

·       Powderless Nitrile Gloves

·       Pre-washed Cotton clothing (no Fabric Softener)

·       PVC or Wax-coated fabrics

·       PVC or similar Rain gear

 Clothing/ Shoes/ Personal Items/ PPE to Avoid:

·       Dirt and/or Stain Resistant (Scotchgard®, Stainmaster®)

·       Fabric Softener

·       Gore-Tex™/ Polartec™

·       Smart phone touch screens

·       UV Protection

·       Waterproof

·       Water-repellent

·       Wristband for the Apple Sport Watch

 NOTE:  Personal safety is paramount.  The safety of personnel should not be compromised by fear of PFAS containing materials without any scientific basis. 

Field Documentation

·       Aluminum Clipboard

·       Ballpoint Pens

·       Non-recycled paper

·       Sharpie® Fine Point

 ·       No Post-It® Notes

·       No Treated Paper or Paper Products      

A staging area will be set up at the site, away from the sampling area.  This area will be used for putting on and removing PPE if staff needs to leave the sampling area during sampling activities. 

 FOOD/BEVERAGES

**Any food/beverages will be consumed outside the sampling area

·       Do not handle, consume or otherwise interact with pre-wrapped food or snacks, carry-out food, fast food or other food items while on site in the sampling area.

·       Move to a staging area and remove PPE prior to leaving the sampling area if consuming food

·       Wash hands thoroughly before returning to sampling area

·       No chemical ice packs

DECONTAMINATION

Decontamation/cleaning of the Geoprobe and sampling equipment will be done to the best of our ability prior to arrival at the site

Sampling equipment should be decontaminated prior to sampling and after sampling at each location or at the end of the day, whichever is preferred by consultant. 

NOTE:  OES had our water analyzed by the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene on 8/9/2019 for the presence of Perfluorinated Compounds.  All results came back below detection limits, with the exception of PFOA which came back at .65 ng/L (ppt).  See attached report.

DECONTAMINATION PROCEDURE:

·       Allowable Soaps are Alconox®, Liquinox® and Citranox®  (NO Decon 90®)

·       No equipment will be put away without decontaminating first

·       Lab supplied PFAS-free deionized water or verified PFAS-free water only

 1)    In PFAS-free bucket, wash equipment with PFAS-free water and PFAS-free soap (allowable soaps listed above)

2)    Scrub with approved brush (PVC or Polyethylene)

3)    In a 2nd PFAS-free bucket, rinse with PFAS-free water

4)    Rinse a 2nd time in a 3rd PFAS-free bucket (or if washed and rinsed, the second bucket can be used)

5)    Change decon water between each boring location