July 2020 | Volume 10 | Issue 5

PFAS: It's Not Just in the Water

BY ALLISON MACKENZIE, CEO

In response to widespread contamination, the EPA and FDA have released testing methods that identify 29 PFAS compounds in water and 16 PFAS compounds in food The EPA also released a 2020 update of its PFAS Action Plan that details the guidelines for testing PFAS in drinking water, recommendations for cleaning up contaminated groundwater, and the allocation of around 14.9 million dollars towards researching PFAS in agriculture, waste, and the environment.

Local agencies, such as the California Water Board, have created additional safety measures for PFAS in drinking water. The Board lowered the response and notification levels for PFAS, specifically PFOS and PFOA, to minimize the public’s health risk. California has further launched a multi-phase PFAS investigation that collects samples from airports, landfills, public water systems, manufacturing facilities, and WWTP.

While most government regulations address PFAS water contamination, new research has stressed the importance of PFAS testing throughout aquatic and terrestrial food chains. The biomagnification effect of some PFAS compounds remains a health risk to both animal and human life. Moreover, as short-chain PFAS, dubbed “Gen-X” chemicals, replace long-chained and precursor PFAS in industrial manufacturing, further testing of water, soil, sediment, and biota is needed to accurately assess how perfluorinated compounds impact the food chain and... read more.

Going Back to School or the Office?

Maybe Time for A Different Type of Test

After months of lockdown, some Californians are returning to their offices, restaurants, schools and gyms. But as we reach to turn on the tap or the shower, a new hazard may be lurking in the stagnant water of our abandoned plumbing—Legionella.

First discovered in 1976, Legionella flourishes in man-made water systems like hot water tanks and heaters, showers, sinks, cooling towers, hot tubs, and decorative water features. When aerosolized droplets of contaminated water are inhaled, the bacteria can cause a type of deadly pneumonia called Legionnaires Disease. According to the CDC Toolki t for managing Legionella, proper prevention and maintenance are vital to control outbreaks, but the long shutdown compromised many water systems in commercial buildings.

Before Covid-19 hit, buildings kept chlorinated water flowing through their plumbing and maintained water temperatures too hot or cold for bacteria to grow. But after months of lockdown, unused water systems now provide Legionella with the perfect conditions to flourish...read more.

Are You Prepared for PFAS Monitoring?

Join a Babcock PFAS PEP Rally and Find Out

Would you like to learn more about the practical implications of the recent Board Orders for PFAS monitoring? How to sample correctly without introducing errors? Which lab methods should be used for liquids and biosolids? What to expect from the data?

As many of our clients know, Babcock has been providing the environmental community with education through Babcock TEAM events for over ten years. Our team of experts has provided numerous presentations and training classes in PFAS methods and sampling at our conference facility. Unfortunately, the typical in-person presentations cannot be held this year so we are pleased to announce the launch of the Babcock PEP Rally!

If you are interested in joining us for a PEP (PFAS Environmental Presentation) Rally, please email your contact information to PFAS@babcocklabs.com

In Case You Missed It:

Wet Wipes Have More Than One Dirty Secret (read more)

Life in Plastic: Determining Microplastics in Drinking Water (read more)

Safe Recycled water in a Petri Dish? (read more)

The Path Out of Coronavirus Lockdown? Follow the Wastewater (read more)

Lab Accreditation: ELAP Publishes Proposed Regulations (read more)

EPA Announces New Method to Test for Additional PFAS in Drinking Water (read more)

Holiday Reminder

Babcock Labs will be closed Monday September 7th in observance of Labor Day (Contact Project Manager)

Did you know?

Babcock Labs is CA ELAP accredited to perform all 18 analytes for EPA Method 537.1 and all 38 analytes under the DoD QSM 5.3. Also offered at Babcock Labs is EPA Method 533 for short-chain PFAs analytes. ( learn more)