PFAS contaminated asphalt and concrete - Knowledge gaps for future research and management

G B Douglas; J L Vanderzalm; M Williams; J K Kirby; R S Kookana; T P Bastow; M Bauer; K C Bowles; D Skuse; G B Davis

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164025

PFAS contaminated asphalt and concrete - Knowledge gaps for future research and management

Sci Total Environ. 2023 Aug 20:887:164025. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164025. Epub 2023 May 9.

Authors

G B Douglas¹, J L Vanderzalm², M Williams³, J K Kirby³, R S Kookana³, T P Bastow⁴, M Bauer⁵, K C Bowles⁶, D Skuse⁷, G B Davis⁴

Affiliations

¹ CSIRO Land & Water, Industry Environments Program, Centre for Environment and Life Sciences, Private Bag 5, Wembley, WA 6913, Australia; School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Kent St, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia. Electronic address: grant.douglas@csiro.au.
² CSIRO Land & Water, Water Security Program, Waite Campus, Waite Road, Urrbrae, SA 5064, Australia.
³ CSIRO Land & Water, Industry Environments Program, Waite Campus, Waite Road, Urrbrae, SA 5064, Australia.
⁴ CSIRO Land & Water, Industry Environments Program, Centre for Environment and Life Sciences, Private Bag 5, Wembley, WA 6913, Australia.
⁵ Department of Defence, Space Systems Branch, Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group, BP1-01 Canberra, ACT, Australia.
⁶ Jacobs, L7/177 Pacific Hwy, North Sydney 2060, Australia; Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia.
⁷ Jacobs, Darwin, Northern Territory 0804, Australia.

PMID: 37169188
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164025

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are now widespread in the environment. Globally, airfields and paved firefighting training surfaces are particularly affected due to extensive use of aqueous film forming foams (AFFF). This PFAS contamination in exposed concrete and asphalt has not been widely addressed. This review focusses on PFAS interaction with concrete and asphalt, traversing extraction, analytical identification/quantification, PFAS fractionation via differential adsorption on organic and inorganic substrates, and reuse options for contaminated concrete and asphalt. A total of 24 knowledge gaps and management challenges for concrete and asphalt characterisation and management have been identified.

Keywords: Asphalt; Concrete; PFAS; Pavement.

Publication types

Review