Simulating PFAS Fate and Transport in Air with CMAQ

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of industrially produced compounds that have been increasingly scrutinized due to their widespread detection in waterways across the globe and largely unknown but varying health impacts. Detection in water, particularly drinking water supplies, has been a main area of research, although recently it has become recognized that air emissions, transport, and deposition can lead to the contamination of surface and ground water. To date, most PFAS air modeling research has utilized plume dispersion models which investigate up to a few 10’s of kilometers from the source and typically has focused on 1 or 2 PFAS. However, evidence for longer range transport and 1,000’s of individual PFAS suggests that more complex regional and global-scale models should be explored. In this vein, CMAQ has recently been modified to simulate the transport and fate of a complete suite of PFAS from one known fluoropolymer manufacturer. Modeled species-specific physicochemical properties are utilized to simulate the partitioning of species to surfaces, particulate matter, and cloud droplets. To date, oxidative chemistry has not been included, but will be part of a future update.

Learn more about simulating PFAS fate and transport with CMAQ.