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Title: Cross-national challenges and strategies for PFAS regulatory compliance in water infrastructure
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are notable health concerns, leading to global drinking-water regulations for primary PFAS. However, conventional drinking-water treatment methods are ineffective in eliminating PFAS due to their resistance to such processes. Moreover, certain disinfection procedures may inadvertently generate perfluorinated compounds from polyfluorinated precursor compounds. With evolving regulations, there exists an immediate demand for both technical and non-technical solutions that water treatment facilities can adopt. Here, to address this critical gap, we examine the primary challenges tied to PFAS removal and introduce a detailed four-stage protocol. We advocate for non-technical strategies to improve PFAS removal practices. The treatment trains and management recommendations presented in this Perspective are also geared towards helping utilities comply with regulations concerning other chemical contaminants, including disinfection by-products. We emphasize the necessity for practical PFAS monitoring and treatment guidelines and encourage utilities to leverage all available resources, to positively impact public health through improved water quality.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2244985 2041060
PAR ID:
10523610
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
Springer
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Nature water
ISSN:
2731-6084
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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