Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID NJ_2023_CARUANA-FENNELL

Reductive defluorination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in sediments

Institute: New Jersey
Year Established: 2023 Start Date: 2023-09-01 End Date: 2024-08-31
Total Federal Funds: $5,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $5,002

Principal Investigators: Melissa Caruana, Donna Fennell

Project Summary: This project will determine if the organohalide respiring bacteria (OHRB) native to the New York/New Jersey Harbor can defluorinate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). My group has previously demonstrated that there is an abundance of OHRB such as Dehalococcoides and Dehalogenimonas along with a likely new genus of OHRB that are capable of dechlorinating a variety of persistent chlorinated compounds such as 2,3,7,8-TCDD and other dioxin congeners. Data will be collected by setting up sediment microcosms under a variety of amendment conditions, as well as DNA sequencing and chemical analyses. It is critical to get ahead of this arising issue as these compounds are already making their way up the food chain. Proving that defluorination of PFAS occurs can help elucidate a cost-effective management strategy as current removal remedies are extremely expensive. In addition, this work will allow us to expand our knowledge of the fate and transport of these emerging persistent organic pollutants. Understanding the fate of PFAS improve sediment and water quality in New Jersey’s tidal rivers.