Analysing PFAS Influents to Minimize Environmental Impact and Safeguard Community Health

PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are water-repellent chemicals that can accumulate and remain for very long periods of time in water and soil. The persisting nature of PFAS has resulted in significant community concern about the potential long-term health effects of these chemicals, especially through bioaccumulation. Large quantities of PFAS have been found in South-East Queensland (Australia) waters and soils, particularly in environments close to sites where Aqueous Film Forming Foams (AFFF) were historically used for firefighting activities. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have also come under scrutiny for discharging PFAS to the environment in their treated effluent and through land application of contaminated biosolids, even though they are usually not the original source of these compounds. It is known that PFAS make their way into the sewerage system from both human and industrial waste and that the unique physio-chemical properties of PFAS compounds make them difficult to remove using conventional wastewater treatment technologies. One strategy to address this treatment conundrum is to minimize the amount of PFAS entering the WWTP treatment process, but this can only be accomplished once the sources of contamination have been clearly identified.

This project aims to identify sources of PFAS in the Gold Coast region and establish an association between community and industry profiles and PFAS concentrations in the influent. Once identified, leverage can be applied to require industrial or domestic sources to reduce or eliminate PFAS prior to discharge into the sewer system.

Funding Notes

• Griffith University funds both domestic and international PhD candidates on a competitive basis and is one of few institutions to offer both a tuition fee waiver and a living stipend.
• To be eligible and competitive for a Griffith University Postgraduate Research Scholarship (domestic; View Website) or a Griffith University International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (international applicants; View Website) you need to have First Class Honours or equivalent research experience.
• First-author peer-reviewed publications in international journals are advantageous.
• Top-ranked candidates will be selected from among applicants to proceed to a formal PhD and scholarship application through Griffith University, with the support of the prospective supervisory team.
• Applications can be received and processed year-round for our four intakes. Click here for key dates.