Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID VA 2023 GMU

Hazard identification of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in locally consumed fishes of the tidal freshwater Potomac River

Institute: Virginia
Year Established: 2023 Start Date: 2023-09-01 End Date: 2024-08-31
Total Federal Funds: $19,956 Total Non-Federal Funds: $19,956

Principal Investigators: Thomas Huff

Project Summary: A current class of chemical pollutants that are resistant to degradation in the environment are of increasing concern because of human and environmental health effects. These chemicals are sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals” because of their long persistence in the environment. There is concern about accumulation of these compounds in fish that are consumed by humans. This project is gathering information about fish consumption from local fishing communities and assessing the concentrations of these forever chemicals in fish tissue. A focus area of the project is identifying the communities at greatest risk to exposure to these chemicals through fish consumption.