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Mineralogical controls on PFAS and anthropogenic anions in subsurface soils and aquifers

Author

Listed:
  • Marina G. Evich

    (Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling)

  • James Ferreira

    (USEPA, Region 4)

  • Oluwaseun Adeyemi

    (University of Georgia)

  • Paul A. Schroeder

    (University of Georgia)

  • Jason C. Williams

    (Bureau of Land and Waste Management)

  • Brad Acrey

    (Laboratory Services and Applied Sciences Division)

  • Diana Burdette

    (Laboratory Services and Applied Sciences Division)

  • Malcolm Grieve

    (Laboratory Services and Applied Sciences Division)

  • Michael P. Neill

    (Laboratory Services and Applied Sciences Division)

  • Kevin Simmons

    (Laboratory Services and Applied Sciences Division)

  • Brian C. Striggow

    (Laboratory Services and Applied Sciences Division)

  • Samuel B. Cohen

    (Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling)

  • Mike Cyterski

    (Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling)

  • Donna A. Glinski

    (Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling)

  • W. Matthew Henderson

    (Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling)

  • Du Yung Kim

    (Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling)

  • John W. Washington

    (Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling
    University of Georgia)

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) migrate into the environment through various means, e.g., soil-amendment impurities and ambient atmospheric deposition, potentially resulting in vegetative uptake and migration to groundwater. Existing approaches for modeling sorption of PFAS commonly treat soil as an undifferentiated homogeneous medium, with distribution constants (e.g., Kd, Koc) generated empirically using surface soils. Considering the limited mineral variety expected in weathered geologic media, PFAS mobility can be better understood by accounting for predictable mineral assemblages that are ubiquitously distributed in US soils. Here we explore the role of minerals and electrostatic sorption in controlling PFAS mobility in subsurface settings at contaminated agricultural sites by measuring geochemical parameters and PFAS, and calculating pH-dependent mineral surface charges through full soil and aquifer columns. These data suggest subsurface mobility of short-chain PFAS largely is controlled by aluminum-oxide mineral(oid) electrostatic sorption, whereas long-chain PFAS mobility is controlled by organic matter and air-water interfacial area.

Suggested Citation

  • Marina G. Evich & James Ferreira & Oluwaseun Adeyemi & Paul A. Schroeder & Jason C. Williams & Brad Acrey & Diana Burdette & Malcolm Grieve & Michael P. Neill & Kevin Simmons & Brian C. Striggow & Sam, 2025. "Mineralogical controls on PFAS and anthropogenic anions in subsurface soils and aquifers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-58040-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58040-w
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