Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID MA-2025-Randhir

Watershed-Scale Analysis of PFAS Contamination and Public Health Risk in Massachusetts

Institute: Massachusetts
Year Established: 2025 Start Date: 2026-01-01 End Date: 2026-12-31
Total Federal Funds: $35,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $35,348

Principal Investigators: Timothy Randhir

Project Summary: This research focuses on understanding how PFAS - persistent and potentially harmful chemicals - are transported through the environment and contaminate water resources. PFAS are found in rivers, lakes, and soils due to runoff from industrial sites, firefighting foam, and consumer products. Because these chemicals do not easily break down, they can accumulate and pose risks to public health. This project applies geographic mapping tools to examine how landscape and social-economic features such as land use, soil type, rainfall, and watershed communities influence the movement of PFAS within watersheds. By delineating watershed boundaries around contaminated sites, we aim to trace sources of contamination and evaluate which communities may be most affected. The study will also assess population vulnerability by integrating demographic and land use data. Results will support efforts by environmental agencies, public health officials and water resource managers to better understand PFAS behavior, prioritize areas for remediation, and reduce exposure risks across Massachusetts and the Northeast.