Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2022_WI_Dehnert

Quantifying PFAS bioaccumulation and health impacts on economically important plants and animals associated with aquatic ecosystems in the Ceded Territories

Institute: Wisconsin
USGS Grant Number:
Year Established: 2022 Start Date: 2022-12-01 End Date: 2025-11-30
Total Federal Funds: $250,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $250,000

Principal Investigators: Gavin Dehnert

Project Summary: The presence of per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in aquatic ecosystems of the Great Lakes Region is of concern to many diverse stakeholders, including Tribal Nations, water quality managers, and the public. Because PFAS can be found in plants and animals, it is critical to decipher how much PFAS mixtures are in flora and fauna that are of concern for human consumption (e.g., wild rice, sugar bush sap, and fish). Additionally, high levels of PFAS exposure from aquatic environments could lead to negative health impacts on wildlife. Therefore, we propose to (I) assess aquatic environments for PFAS contamination in the Ceded Territories, (II) determine the accumulation of PFAS in different plants and animals, and (III) understand the health impacts of PFAS exposure. Overall, the proposed study will help us understand PFAS contamination in the Ceded Territories as many Tribal communities rely on the local aquatic environment for economic, social, and cultural purposes.