Pondering PFAS: Educational Content from PFAS Symposium

In April, 2023, WQRF hosted a symposium designed to engage and inform stakeholders in water on the latest information about PFAS.  Topics included a primer on toxicology, perspectives from states and the international community on PFAS regulation,  unintended consequences of PFAS, destruction and disposal.  

WQRF is committed to keeping these important conversations active, by offering these brief, edited versions of some of the 2023 Symposium sessions. 

Special thanks to all of our speakers and to our Symposium Sponsors for making this educational opportunity possible:
ResinTech, Watts, Sharp Water Culligan, Charger Water, Calgon Carbon and Urbans Aqua.

2023 PFAS Symposium Mini-Sessions

PFAS: Risk Assessment and Toxicology

Kristin Licko, MS, MWS

The PFAS Game Show
Moderator:
Larry Gottlieb, ResinTech

Session I: International and National PFAS Perspectives
Our panelists discuss what's happening on the regulatory front in Canada, EU, the US and within the state of California.  

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PFAS: The Unintended Consequences

Chad Seidel, Ph.D, PE

Why We are Here: PFAS and the Future of Clean Drinking Water

Robert Bilott, Esq.

PFAS Symposium Content
Attendees of the Symposium have access to this recorded content.
Access can be purchased here for a small fee.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
PFAS and its family of chemicals have become well-known for what we don't know about their impact on human health and clean, safe drinking water.  WQRF began work in early 2023 by having conversations around the topic of PFAS and what it means for all stakeholders in water today.  Help to continue these conversations by using these resources we've compiled and join us for periodic webinars and meetings.  

Please note: Information shared is based on our current understanding. As more information becomes available, our understanding may change.

Image Credit: NGI

Dr. Zhi (George) Zhou shares information on a proposed WQRF research project, specific to PFAS.

PFAS Symposium attendees.

Chad Seidel presenting on "Unintended Consequences of PFAS" during the Symposium.

​PFAS
PFAS (Perfluoroalkyl substances): a group of chemicals, including PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) & PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate)​
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Health Effects
Unclear, early research suggests a small increase in  risk of testicular, kidney, and thyroid cancers​

What Are PFAS?
PFAS are a group of chemicals used broadly in manufacturing and consumer products, ​such as nonstick cookware, water- and stain-repellent clothing, food packaging, and more. ​They are known as the "forever chemicals" due to the fact that they break down slowly over time. Blood tests show that Americans have been universally exposed. There are thousands of PFAS chemicals, however, concentrations have been decreasing as many major manufacturers voluntarily phased these chemicals out of production. On March 14, 2023, the EPA proposed new National Drinking Water Regulations aimed at protecting people from environmental PFAS exposures. 

Treating Water for Protection

Benefits of Treatment
Learn more about how Point-of-Use (POU) devices can provide an important safeguard at the tap. ​

Benefit of Treament

Types of Treatment
Click below to learn more about some of the most common types of treatment technologies, including activated carbon filtration, reverse osmosis (RO) and ultraviolet (UV) light.

Type of Treatment

Product Certification Resources
Click below to Search for water treatment devices that have been certified to NSF/ANSI standards.
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Product Certification

Webinars and Extended Educational Information 

What You Wish You Could Unknow
About PFAS 
January, 2023 webinar 
Dr. Chad Seidel, Ph.D, P.E.
Dr. Helen Goeden, Ph.D 

What You Wish You Knew About PFAS
March, 2023 webinar 
Peter Cartwright, MWS, PE
Adam Redding, Ph.D
Larry Gottlieb

PFAS and Forecasting the Regulatory Landscape
 June, 2023 webinar
Linda Dell