DEM Moves to Address “Forever Chemicals”
GoLocalProv News Team
DEM Moves to Address “Forever Chemicals”
“Unfortunately, there is a growing body of scientific and epidemiological evidence suggesting that exposure to a number of these compounds is deleterious to human health and/or the environment. This has led to the development of some of the most stringent regulatory standards and guidelines applied to any organic contaminant,” writes DEM.
Forever chemicals are Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a group of organic compounds, which due to the presence of fluorine, have non-reactive, chemical, pressure, and thermal stability properties.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThey are also resistant to the typical environmental biological, chemical and physical degradation processes, thus dubbing them with the accolade of “forever chemicals”
These compounds have been used in a wide range of industrial, commercial, and domestic products. These applications include use in aerospace, automotive, aviation, construction, cosmetics, electronics, energy production, firefighting, food packaging, medical, metal plating, munitions, plastics, semiconductor, textiles, as well as other uses.
A 2019 story in GoLocal highlighted the threat and outlined the locations impacted in RI:
One major environmental research group is warning that 12 Rhode Island drinking water sites impacting more than 50,000 Rhode Islanders have detected contamination of toxic PFAS — toxic fluorinated compounds.
The Rhode Island Department of Health, however, is challenging the accuracy of the methodology.
The known extent of contamination of American communities with PFAS "continues to grow at an alarming rate, with no end in sight," said Environmental Working Group (EWG) in their release of the data this week.
As of March 2019, at least 610 locations in 43 states are known to be contaminated, including drinking water systems serving an estimated 19 million people, according to EWG.
SEE THE RI SITES BELOW
DEM Proposal
According to the draft regulations, the RIDEM plan for further investigation of PFAS sources involves the following next steps and actions:
Reduce the priority data gap related to PFAS exposure:
a. Build state capacity for the sampling of private wells around known or suspected sites with PFAS contamination.
b. Secure funds to conduct further testing of biosolids generated by RI WWTFs and in and around locations where biosolid products have been land applied in RI.
c. Design and carry out monitoring of RI surface waters with a focus on rivers that receive wastewater discharges. RIDEM has received FY23 EPA funding to initiate this work.
d. Secure funding to initiate testing of fish tissue for PFAS.
Read the full report HERE
PFAS Contamination -- May 8, 2019
System name: Charlestown Elementary School
State: Rhode Island
Population served: 350
Testing dates: 09/08/17 - 09/08/17
PFAS detected: PFOA, PFOS, PFPeA
PFAS min - max: 33.6 - 33.6 ppt
Source: EWG from drinking water test data
System name: Trinity Lutheran Preschool
State: Rhode Island
Population served: 45
Testing dates: 09/28/17 - 09/28/17
PFAS detected: PFOS
PFAS min - max: 4.04 - 4.04 ppt
Source: EWG from drinking water test data
System name: Westerly Water Department
State: Rhode Island
Population served: 38,000
Testing dates: 09/16/15 - 10/03/16
PFAS detected: PFOA, PFOS
PFAS min - max: 0 - 74.2 ppt
Source: EWG from drinking water test data
System name: Quonochontaug East Beach Water Association
State: Rhode Island
Population served: 200
Testing dates: 09/22/17 - 09/22/17
PFAS detected: PFBS, PFHxA, PFOA, PFOS, PFPeA
PFAS min - max: 47.93 - 47.93 ppt
Source: EWG from drinking water test data
Contamination site: Naval Station Newport
Location: Newport County, Rhode Island
Date of discovery: 2018
Results (PFOS/ PFOA) or Range above EPA LHAs:(on-base) Combined PFOS/PFOA = 95-20,420 ppt
Other Results PFAS or Range above EPA LHAs:N/A
Suspected source: Firefighting foam used at Naval Station Newport
Source: EWG from Department of Defense
System name: Ladd Center Water System
State: Rhode Island
Population served: 129
Testing dates: 09/08/17 - 09/08/17
PFAS detected: PFBS, PFHpA, PFHxA, PFOA, PFOS, PFPeA
PFAS min - max: 80.86 - 80.86 ppt
Source: EWG from drinking water test data
System name: Scituate High School and Middle School
State: Rhode Island
Population served: 1,400
Testing dates: 09/21/17 - 09/21/17
PFAS detected: PFHpA, PFHxA, PFOA, PFOS, PFPeA
PFAS min - max: 48.18 - 48.18 ppt
Source: EWG from drinking water test data
System name: Yacht Club Bottling Company (No longer in service)
State: Rhode Island
Population served: 0
Testing dates: 10/12/17 - 10/12/17
PFAS detected: PFBS, PFHxA, PFHxS, PFOA, PFOS, PFPeA
PFAS min - max: 128.46 - 128.46 ppt
Source: EWG from drinking water test data
System name: The Village On Chopmist Hill
State: Rhode Island
Population served: 250
Testing dates: 08/25/17 - 08/25/17
PFAS detected: PFOA, PFOS
PFAS min - max: 16.91 - 16.91 ppt
Source: EWG from drinking water test data
System name: Ohm Ganesh DBA Country Farms
State: Rhode Island
Population served: 33
Testing dates: 10/02/17 - 10/02/17
PFAS detected: PFNA
PFAS min - max: 4.1 - 4.1 ppt
Source: EWG from drinking water test data
System name: Oakland Association Inc.
State: Rhode Island
Population served: 175
Testing dates: 08/24/17 - 09/26/17
PFAS detected: PFBS, PFHpA, PFHxA, PFHxS, PFOA, PFOS, PFPeA
PFAS min - max: 147.82 - 205.12 ppt
Source: EWG from drinking water test data
System name: Cumberland
State: Rhode Island
Population served: 22,864
Testing dates: 02/18/15 - 05/27/16
PFAS detected: PFOA, PFOS
PFAS min - max: 0 - 81 ppt
Source: EWG from drinking water test data
