Lessons from Yale's PFAS Symposium
They are in the blood of 97% of Americans, and they last forever. What can we do? 3
Imagine a chemical so persistent that it never breaks down in the environment, so ubiquitous that it's found in the blood of nearly every person on Earth, and so useful that it's embedded in countless everyday products from non-stick pans to rain jackets. This is the paradox of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—the "forever chemicals" that represent one of the most significant environmental health challenges of our time.
On December 13, 2019, experts from Yale University, government agencies, and research institutions gathered at the Yale School of Public Health Symposium in New Haven, Connecticut, to confront this complex problem. The meeting, titled "Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): Challenges and Opportunities," aimed to bridge the gap between scientific understanding and actionable solutions 1 2 . This article explores the critical insights from that gathering and the ongoing battle against these persistent chemicals.
PFAS represent a large, complex group of synthetic chemicals that have been used in consumer products and industry since the 1940s 3 . Their defining feature is a chain of linked carbon and fluorine atoms—a combination that creates one of the strongest chemical bonds in nature, making these substances remarkably resistant to degradation 3 8 .
Different PFAS chemicals in existence 3
The same stability that made PFAS so valuable for commerce makes them a persistent environmental threat. Unlike many other pollutants, PFAS do not break down easily in the environment, leading to their accumulation in water, soil, and living organisms 2 3 .
These chemicals have become pervasive in consumer products and industrial processes because of the unique properties imparted by their chemical structures, including stability, heat resistance, friction reduction abilities, and oil and water repellence 2 .
Carbon-Fluorine bonds are among the strongest in organic chemistry, making PFAS extremely resistant to degradation.
The symposium highlighted growing scientific consensus on the health risks associated with PFAS exposure. Decades of research have linked these chemicals to numerous adverse health effects, even at low exposure levels 2 .
Americans with PFAS in drinking water above EPA reference levels 2
Of Americans with PFAS in their blood 3
Human exposure to PFAS is widespread but variable by geography and occupation. People are most likely exposed to these chemicals by consuming PFAS-contaminated water or food, using products made with PFAS, or breathing air containing PFAS 3 . Because PFAS break down slowly, if at all, people and animals are repeatedly exposed to them, and blood levels of some PFAS can build up over time 3 .
Drinking Water
Food
Consumer Products
Air
Epidemiological and toxicological research has associated PFAS exposure with a wide range of health problems 2 :
The National Toxicology Program concluded that two specific PFAS compounds (PFOA and PFOS) suppressed the antibody response and presented a clear hazard to immune system function in humans 3 .
| Health Effect | Evidence Strength | Populations Most at Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Thyroid Disruption | Strong | General population |
| Weakened Immune Response | Strong | Children, elderly |
| High Cholesterol | Established | Adults |
| Kidney & Testicular Cancer | Growing evidence | Occupationally exposed |
| Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension | Established | Pregnant women |
| Altered Metabolism | Research ongoing | Children |
One of the key research presentations at the symposium detailed a collaborative study between Yale researchers and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP) that examined how PFAS from landfills can contaminate nearby drinking water sources 2 .
Researchers identified multiple landfill sites across Connecticut with varying characteristics, focusing on those located near residential areas relying on private wells.
The team collected water samples from private wells and small public water systems at varying distances from each landfill site. Special protocols were implemented to avoid contamination during sampling.
Samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), the established method for PFAS detection in water.
Researchers created detailed maps showing the relationship between contamination levels and distance from landfill sites.
The team analyzed how factors such as rainfall, soil type, and landfill age affected the spread of PFAS into groundwater.
The study revealed that landfills can serve as significant sources of PFAS contamination for nearby drinking water supplies, particularly affecting households relying on private wells that aren't subject to the same testing requirements as municipal systems 2 .
This research provided Connecticut officials with critical data to identify vulnerable communities and prioritize intervention strategies. It underscored the importance of targeted monitoring of private wells near potential PFAS sources—a concern that extends far beyond Connecticut to communities nationwide 2 .
| Method | Applications | Advantages |
|---|---|---|
| LC-MS/MS | Drinking water | High sensitivity |
| GC-MS | Volatile PFAS | Complementary |
| TOP Assay | Unknown precursors | Captures precursors |
| Combustion IC | Total fluorine | Comprehensive |
The symposium highlighted that understanding PFAS is only the first step—the ultimate goal is developing effective strategies to address existing contamination and prevent future pollution.
Traditional water treatment methods are often ineffective against PFAS due to their stable chemical bonds 2 . Researchers presented several promising approaches:
Enabled remediation that can break down PFAS molecules 1
Systems using specially designed adsorbents 2
That can mineralize PFAS compounds 5
The EPA and other organizations are conducting research to evaluate the effectiveness of these technologies at various scales, from household filters to full-scale water treatment plants 5 .
Perhaps the most promising long-term solution lies in developing safer alternatives to PFAS 1 2 . Green chemistry approaches aim to create new materials that provide the same useful properties without the persistence and toxicity 1 .
The Yale symposium underscored that addressing the PFAS challenge requires unprecedented collaboration across scientific disciplines, government agencies, and sectors 1 2 . The interdisciplinary coalition established during Connecticut's PFAS Action Plan development served as a model for how diverse stakeholders can work together on this complex issue 1 .
Throughout the symposium, discussions revealed opportunities for collaborations that would support ongoing state efforts to implement the initiatives recommended in the Connecticut PFAS Action Plan 2 . This included improving communication between researchers and public health officials to ensure scientific findings quickly inform policy decisions 2 .
A significant portion of the symposium focused on strategies for effective community engagement 1 . As testing for PFAS contamination becomes more widespread, concerned citizens increasingly turn to local health departments and municipal officials with questions about environmental health risks 2 .
The 2019 Yale Symposium on PFAS represented a critical gathering of minds to confront one of our most persistent environmental health challenges. While the problems presented by "forever chemicals" are formidable, the collective expertise displayed at this event points toward a path forward.
The solutions will inevitably be as multi-faceted as the problem itself: advanced detection methods to identify what we're facing, innovative remediation technologies to clean up existing contamination, green chemistry alternatives to prevent future pollution, and informed policy decisions to protect vulnerable communities.
As symposium participants emphasized, meeting the PFAS challenge requires ongoing collaboration between scientists, policymakers, industry leaders, and community members 1 2 . The work begun at gatherings like the Yale symposium continues in laboratories, government agencies, and communities across the nation—a testament to human ingenuity in the face of a problem of our own creation.
The legacy of PFAS may be their persistence, but the human response is characterized by equal determination to protect public health and restore environmental integrity.