Regional PFAS research published in special issue of ACS ES&T

Research on the leaching potential of PFAS from biosolids as applied to Wisconsin soils and the mitigation potential of biochar was published as part of “Emerging Contaminants in Agroecosystems,” a special issue from ACS ES&T Water. The completed research was a UW System collaborative effort led by Professors Holly and Gunn at UW-Green Bay and included soils sampled from the main geographical regions of the state. Measurements and sampling were facilitated by undergraduate researchers in Environmental Engineering Technology Program at UW-Green Bay.

The study found that spreading biosolids (the solid residual from wastewater treatment) on land can pollute groundwater with PFAS which poses health risks, as observed in undisturbed soil columns from Wisconsin. The authors also measured the significant treatment potential of mixing biochar with biosolids to reduce contamination. Biosolids may be the most diffuse terrestrial source of PFAS pollution and PFAS leachate measurements from local soils indicated leaching above the groundwater human health standard for PFAS. Professors Holly and Gunn recently received funds to evaluate leaching and treatment at the field scale in Northeast Wisconsin. Funding for the current and future work was provided by the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin.