Taken from TRB Weekly – June 25, 2024

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of more than 6,000 contaminants of emerging concern that can harm both ecosystems and human health. These anthropogenic compounds contain carbon–fluorine bonds that make them stable and persistent in the environment, earning them the nickname “forever chemicals.”

Practices to Identify and Mitigate PFAS Impacts on Highway Construction Projects and Maintenance Operations (NCHRP Synthesis 630), released this past week from TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program, documents current state departments of transportation practices for identifying locations of potential PFAS contamination and mitigating the impacts of PFAS related to highway construction and maintenance operations. The study considers PFAS impact and mitigation efforts in all phases of highway project development (planning, design, right-of-way acquisition), construction, and maintenance.