Special Studies and Projects for Addressing PFAS
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Why is this a San Francisco Bay Program Priority?
Per-/polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are a broad class of chemicals with many uses across consumer, commercial, and industrial products resulting in widespread occurrence in the environment. The carbon-fluorine bonds that define this class of chemicals afford PFAS stability, earning them the name “forever chemicals.” These contaminants have been found across the Bay ecosystem: in water, sediment, fish, birds, marine mammals, and in humans.
EPA has identified PFAS as an urgent public health and environmental issue due to their toxicity and ability to bioaccumulate. Sediment sampling efforts will improve the understanding of contaminated sites and help target clean up actions.
With support of EPA, local partners can map these data, inform future management and restoration strategies, and advise local communities of specific waterbodies/areas of concern within the estuary.