PFAS Research and Development (R&D) Workshop July 2024
Office of Environment, Health, Safety & Security
July 23, 2024
minute read time
By: Marc A. Willis, Ph.D.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), for the lay person, the name is equally difficult to spell as it is to enunciate. In recent years this group of human-made chemicals known as PFAS has attracted the attention of the public and the scientific community. In part because of growing concerns these substances may have a negative impact on humans and the environment. Solving this problem was the focus of researchers across the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) at a workshop held July 9-11 at Brookhaven National Laboratory and organized by the DOE Office of Science.
One goal of the PFAS Research and Development (R&D) Workshop was to develop an updated DOE PFAS Research Plan, a deliverable of the DOE PFAS Roadmap. The workshop was hosted by Bob Gordon, Manager of the Brookhaven Site Office, and featured speakers like Josh Silverman, of the Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security and the Departmental lead for PFAS coordination. Additional speakers included April Kluever from the DOE Office of Environmental Management, Susan Burden from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development, and Kimberly Spangler and Andrea Leeson from the Department of Defense. Breakout sessions allowed National Laboratory researchers, Federal and non-Federal PFAS R&D organizations time to collaborate and identify DOE capabilities to address research gaps, establish research priorities for DOE when it comes to PFAS. There were discussions about how to address PFAS challenges at DOE sites and where funding may be available for future research to target PFAS clean up.
After a successful workshop where the initial DOE PFAS Research Plan was updated, what’s next? One thing is clear, there is a lot more research to do and scientists at the DOE and its National Laboratories are up to the challenge. Moving forward, DOE will examine how collaboration with the academia community and industry may build on the work the Department is doing. DOE is a solutions organization looking forward in pursuit to find answers to PFAS challenges in our environment.
News and information on PFAS including future PFAS workshops can be found here: PFAS.
More About This Author:
Marc A. Willis, Ph.D. is a Public Affairs Specialist currently supporting the DOE Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs.