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Targeted and Nontargeted Analysis of PFAS in Fume Suppressant Products at Chrome Plating Facilities

The Michigan department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy published their study in June 2020 on the Targeted and Nontargeted Analysis of PFAS in Fume Suppressant Products at Chrome Plating Facilities.

“INTRODUCTION

Beginning in 2017 the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) found unexpectedly high levels of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) in chrome plating wastewater (i.e., effluent), which is generally routed to wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) for treatment along with municipal sanitary wastewater before discharge to lakes and streams. In 2018 EGLE asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) Office of Research and Development (ORD) to conduct a study to answer the question of whether the “PFOS-free” fume suppressants (also called mist suppressants or surfactants) are really PFOS-free and/or if PFOS concentrations were being generated within the harsh environment of the plating process from the breakdown of long-chain precursors in the replacement products.”

Read full study results here