Agricultural Biosolids-Associated PFAS Contamination in Constructed Farm Ponds

Agricultural biosolids applications, where solid wastes from wastewater are reconstituted into land-applied fertilizers, are common in the United States. Because biosolids contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), runoff into ponds can expose pond biota to PFAS. Our preliminary data suggests that biosolids-impacted ponds leads to exposure and bioaccumulation of a diverse suite of PFAS, including transformable PFAS precursors. Our studies are aimed at quantifying if and how biosolids-associated PFAS enter ponds, how they bioaccumulate and move through food webs, if and how precursor PFAS are transformed, and whether these exposures lead to adverse effects on individuals or communities. We are pursuing these questions through a combination of field sampling and experiments, both in the laboratory and in mesocosms with simulated pond communities.