Superfund Research Program


July 2024

Detlef Knappe, Ph.D., of the NCSU SRP Center discusses PFAS remediation strategies at the 2024 National PFAS Conference. (Photo courtesy of Courtney Carignan)
Detlef Knappe, Ph.D., of the NCSU SRP Center discusses PFAS remediation strategies at the 2024 National PFAS Conference. (Photo courtesy of Courtney Carignan)

By Isaac Conrad

Scientists across the country, including many funded by the Superfund Research Program (SRP), gathered with community groups, public officials, and others to share experiences and research related to PFAS. Through several recent events, they aimed to understand challenges and discuss strategies to protect the health of communities affected by the toxic and persistent chemicals.

Funded in part by SRP, the fourth National PFAS Conference was hosted June 9-12 by the Michigan State University (MSU) SRP Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The event featured researchers and collaborators from the MSU SRP Center, the North Carolina State University (NCSU) SRP Center, and the University of Rhode Island SRP Center. Other attendees and presenters included representatives of several state and local government agencies, the U.S. Congress, grassroots community organizations, impacted communities, and international organizations.

Emily Donovan, of Clean Cape Fear, shared her experience at the Luncheon for Impacted Community Members. (Photo courtesy of Courtney Carignan)
Emily Donovan, of Clean Cape Fear, shared her experience at the Luncheon for Impacted Community Members. (Photo courtesy of Courtney Carignan)

Courtney Carignan, Ph.D., of MSU, and Robb Kerr and Sandy Wynn-Stelt of the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network co-chaired the event. The conference included a kayak tour of the Huron River, a session on tools to address environmental health disparities, and workshops related to medical guidance for clinicians and educational outreach for K-12 students, and poster sessions highlighting student work.

The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) SRP Center sponsored two similar PFAS-focused events. The first, co-sponsored by the University of Mexico SRP Center, was held May 30 in Santa Clara, California, and highlighted opportunities for academic and community collaborations to address PFAS in Tribal drinking water.

The second, held June 7 at UC Berkeley, was a PFAS workshop focused on translating research findings into policies that protect public health. This workshop featured an array of UC Berkeley SRP Center project leaders and trainees, as well as representatives from several state and U.S. regulatory agencies.