Read the full article by Grace Schuur (The Michigan Daily)
“Since 2019, a small team in the University of Michigan’s Urban Collaboratory has been pioneering the use of plasma treatments to break down per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance pollutants in groundwater using a patented plasma-based treatment program. PFAS are man-made, long-lasting chemicals that break down slowly over time, leach into groundwater and bioaccumulate in human and animal bodies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention links ingestion of PFAS chemicals to many health issues, including kidney cancer. Manufacturers began using PFAS chemicals in the 1940s to repel water and grease. While the U.S. has banned three of these chemicals, many remain unregulated and several have maximum containment levels set by the CDC. Almost all PFAS chemicals do not break down and have remained in their original form since they were developed.
The lab is headed by principal investigator John Foster, nuclear engineering and radiological sciences professor, and Terese Olson, emeritus associated professor of civil and environmental engineering. The researchers use charged gases, known as cold plasmas, to completely break down PFAS in groundwater. Most current PFAS treatment processes simply remove the chemicals and dispose of them elsewhere, which can eventually allow PFAS chemicals to work their way back into groundwater.” …