PFAS Consulting Services

Capabilities

• PFAS Environmental Support Services

  Why are PFAS referred to as "forever chemicals," and how do they affect the environment?

  Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represent an extremely diverse set of chemicals used in a variety of industrial and commercial applications. They can enhance the durability and performance of many manufactured consumer products, including paints, textiles, adhesives, sealers, foams, medical devices, lubricants, upholsteries, and carpets.

  PFAS exhibit a variety of useful physical and chemical properties. Key characteristics of some PFAS include their resistance to water, lipids, oils, flames, and high heat, making them well-suited to many industrial applications. However, their resilience can become problematic when PFAS enter the natural environment.

  When certain PFAS are introduced into environmental systems such as water and soil, they can remain in the natural environment for long periods — leading to the nickname "forever chemicals" — with the potential to enter drinking water, plants, and other organisms.  

  How can facility operators — from manufacturers to municipal water agencies — manage the environmental impacts of PFAS in their products, supply chains, and process streams?

  Our biologists, ecologists, and environmental scientists address issues of environmental permitting and environmental risk assessments, and we perform environmental modeling and analysis and natural resource damage assessments. Exponent's multidisciplinary team of environmental and earth scientists supports clients across all aspects of sustainability and climate change, water management, environmental regulatory compliance, environmental assessment and remediation, and industrial contamination management.

  Our consultants provide testing approaches, analyses, and support for issues related to PFAS found in drinking water and wastewater and assist clients with site remediation, evaluation of biosolids, chemical fate and transport analysis, and toxicity evaluations. Our expertise allows us to help clients stay abreast of and participate in rapidly changing rulemaking and legislation processes for PFAS.

  

• PFAS Product Stewardship & Supply Chain Management

  Why is it important to identify and quantify the PFAS in your supply chain?

  Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including fluoropolymers, fluoroelastomers, and fluorosurfactants, have been used for decades in a wide range of products and manufacturing processes because of unique properties related to the fluorine in these substances. Although the use of many PFAS was reduced in the U.S. under the  PFOA Stewardship Program, many other compounds are used to provide similar performance properties, and restricted PFAS may still be present in imported products and components.

  Addressing PFAS in your products begins with an accurate chemical assessment of your manufacturing supply chain, followed by in-depth chemical data analysis. Trusted global manufacturers rely on Exponent's multidisciplinary consulting teams to evaluate supply chains, including vendor partners, using rigorous scientific methodologies and data analysis.

  How can accurate testing criteria improve PFAS investigations throughout the product lifecycle?

  Our teams have unparalleled expertise in identifying what needs to be measured and overseeing the accurate construction of testing variables, including validating previous testing methods and providing accurate chemical analysis and chemical data interpretation. We have decades of experience constructing tests and interpreting data based on what matters most so you can make decisions about addressing PFAS in your products and supply chains with confidence.

   

  

• PFAS & Product Performance

  How can Exponent's multidisciplinary expertise help manufacturers understand how PFAS contributes to product performance and what alternatives may exist?

  Our integrated teams include chemists, chemical engineers, toxicologists, industrial hygienists, materials and corrosion engineers, polymer and materials scientists, data scientists, and health and environmental scientists, as well as manufacturing and process engineers, with the expertise you need to evaluate your product's performance and conduct comparative analysis to support alternative materials selection when feasible or develop appropriate product stewardship practices for managing PFAS throughout your supply chains and waste streams when adequate alternatives may not be available.

• PFAS Regulatory Support

  As public scrutiny of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) increases, so do the number and types of PFAS regulations, even as the definition of "PFAS" continues to evolve. Exponent's 50+ years of supporting clients with technical expertise and scientific research across numerous industries and applications enable us to provide sound feedback, critical analysis, and important insights to support you through all stages of evolving regulatory frameworks.