Use and Potential Impacts of AFFF Containing PFASs at Airports

Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) has been used for extinguishing fires and for firefighter training at airports for decades. The use of AFFF results in the release of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) into the environment. Some PFASs are known to be persistent in the natural environment and pose potential human and ecological health risks. Government agencies are developing regulation of these chemicals, and these regulations will likely impact airports. This report is a comprehensive resource for understanding the potential environmental and health impacts of PFASs typically found in AFFFs. The report features a primer on PFASs that summarizes their composition, structure, and sources, as well as potential environmental and toxicological concerns about PFASs, regulatory issues, and how PFASs may affect airports. The report also provides a discussion of AFFF management in an airport setting and recommended practices to investigate legacy environmental impacts, potential risks, and remediation options. To help airports identify areas of potential environmental concern, the research team developed the Managing AFFF and PFASs at Airports (MAPA) Screening Tool. The screening tool provides results for the airport as a whole and for individual areas of potential concern. The tool can also be used to foster collaboration among functional departments responsible for management of AFFF and assessment of contamination by PFASs and remediation. The tool can be accessed at www.trb.org/main/blurbs/175866.aspx.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Print
  • Features: Appendices; Glossary; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 229p
  • Serial:
  • Publication flags:

    Open Access (libre)

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01640290
  • Record Type: Publication
  • ISBN: 9780309446389
  • Report/Paper Numbers: Project 02-60
  • Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
  • Created Date: Jul 5 2017 9:38AM