Environmental Sensor for Detection of PFAS

Summary Abstract Even though our environment is overrun with thousands of toxic perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that can cause severe human health damage, monitoring agencies struggle to reduce them given detection tool limitations. Human-made PFAS are “forever” chemicals that do not naturally degrade. They migrate to the air, food, soil, and water, accumulate in the body, and can result in conditions from liver damage to decreased fertility and cancer. Soluble and aerosol forms of PFAS are discharged through waterways and stacks are in our agricultural products, and detectable in the blood of 98% Americans. The EPA has testified to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works of a list of 180 Superfund Sites in 47 states, including Department of Defense (DOD) bases, landfills, farms, transportation hubs and national laboratories. The DOD estimates that its PFAS cleanup costs would total more than $3.2 billion. Right now, researchers, epidemiologists, governments, and environmental monitoring companies seek technology for population studies to monitor personal exposure. Health professionals need reliable and accurate information to develop effective policies and interventions to protect public health. Further, the call for sensors for detection and monitoring of contaminants in environmental samples is increasing. In short, there is an urgent need for inexpensive and versatile sensors for sensitive and selective point-of-use detection of emerging environmental contaminants. Available technologies have limitations which prevent their successful commercialization. Field detection of personal exposure to PFASs in water below 4 ppt, set by the EPA as regulatory limits in drinking water, is currently unachievable for researchers. Conventional detection approaches involve sending field samples to accredited off- site professional laboratories for costly and time-consuming analytical protocols that deliver results in weeks. Pearlhill Technologies proposes developing the environmental optically gated transistor (ENVIR-OGT) sensor to measure chemically-induced electrical response in air and water. SPECIFIC AIMS — (1) Develop the ENVIR-OGT detection matrix (EODM) analytical method validation guideline, and (2) Determine EODM analytical method validation characteristics. Phase I will demonstrate technical merit and feasibility as a new population study tool to measure personal exposure. It will advance epidemiological research understanding about PFAS exposure and human health, as well as likely policy. In Phase II, we hope to test unique ENVIR-OGT sensor capabilities and further validate Phase I by increasing the PFAS it detects.