麻豆传媒

By Megan Bradshaw on July 5, 2016

What鈥檚 in our environment鈥�and is it harmful? That鈥檚 what Towson University Environment Science and Studies program director Christopher Salice would like to know.

He is the principal investigator on a $1.2 million project from the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program. TU is working with Texas Tech University, Oregon State University and CH2MHill to generate wildlife toxicity data and ecological risk assessment tools to inform the management of a class of emerging environmental contaminants known as PFASs or per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances.

鈥淭hese chemicals were used extensively for fire training exercises and to put out fires mostly at Air Force bases,鈥� said Salice. 鈥淧FASs are somewhat soluble and some are very persistent, which is why, through time, they can find their way to groundwater and can then represent a risk to wildlife (and humans). The goal of the research project is to develop data regarding the effects of these chemicals on wildlife (fish, birds, reptiles) and quantitative tools to prioritize chemicals to focus on for further analysis and potential remediation.鈥� 

One of the chemicals Salice鈥檚 team is investigating, PFOS, has been recently. Many individuals are asking a similar question to Salice 鈥� what effects are these toxins having on us? 

鈥淎s with many environmental issues, as a society we are most able to make sound decisions when we are well informed,鈥� noted Salice. 鈥淭his research will provide much-needed information and tools that will allow us to ideally optimize management and regulation of PFAS-contaminated sites.鈥� 

鈥淭he ultimate goal is to ensure that ecosystems and humans are protected from the potential negative effects of chemicals realizing; however, that we will never be able to remove 100 percent of the contamination. 鈥� 

Salice鈥檚 present research builds off a project he conducted with the United States Air Force on PFAS chemicals. The next phase of his current project is to conduct more extensive laboratory and field studies on wildlife living in close proximity to habitats contaminated with PFASs. Work conducted with the Air Force found PFAS concentrations in fish tissues that exceed many provisional health advisory levels.

Less is known, however, about how these contaminants move in the terrestrial environment and exactly how terrestrial organisms might be exposed. Additionally, the quantitative tools Salice鈥檚 team is developing may be applicable to other types of contaminants but will need further testing and vetting before they might become generalizable across chemicals and contaminated sites.