Location: Agricultural Water Efficiency and Salinity Research Unit
Project Number: 2036-61000-019-011-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 30, 2024
End Date: Sep 29, 2027
Objective:
The objectives of the project are as follows:
(i) Evaluate the transfers of PFAS in agricultural soils and waters in order to leverage opportunities to interrupt or optimize those processes to mitigate and remediate contamination.
(ii) Evaluate the uptake of PFAS by different varieties of common crops to evaluate if some varieties offer resilience to PFAS uptake into edible tissues.
(iii) Evaluate the potential for phytoremediation of PFAS contaminated soils by identifying plants with the ability to hyperaccumulate PFAS.
Approach:
The cooperators will work with ARS scientists to conduct basic and applied research to understand the behavior of PFAS in agricultural systems. Transfers of PFAS from treated-wastewaters and biosolids to soils, plants, and soil fauna will be quantified, and low-cost, agriculturally-relevant approaches to reducing the impact of PFAS, e.g., by reducing their transfer from soils to the edible portions of various crops, will be assessed.
Common crops such as spinach will be assessed for varietal differences in PFAS uptake under highly controlled conditions. Genetic differences between the varieties will be explored to determine the underlying mechanisms, e.g., the role of gene transporters, in controlling PFAS uptake.
For soils and waters impacted by high levels of PFAS contamination, the potential for phytoremediation will be assessed. Plant species with a propensity for accelerated PFAS uptake will identified and their performance quantified in pot experiments or constructed wetlands.
Opportunities to work with local stakeholders in all aspects of the work will be explored to increase impact.
