Location: Water Management and Conservation Research
Project Number: 2020-13660-009-038-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 31, 2026
End Date: Aug 30, 2028
Objective:
1. Expand and maintain the PFAS agricultural database
2. Identify knowledge gaps and monitoring priorities for agricultural PFAS contamination
3. Evaluate total fluoride as a PFAS screening indicator for PFAS in agricultural systems
4. Identify and track PFAS sources in a mixed-use watershed
Approach:
This research project will conduct a systematic review of published literature on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in agricultural systems, emphasizing their occurrence, fate, transport, treatment, and environmental conditions. PRISMA screening procedures and transparent inclusion criteria will be used to capture studies reporting PFAS concentrations, management practices, treatment methods, environmental contexts, and analytical approaches. Standardized data will be extracted for PFAS species, concentrations, sample types, amendments, soil and crop characteristics, management strategies, treatment efficiencies, environmental covariates, geographic context, and analytical methods. The resulting database will underpin subsequent analyses and synthesis activities.
The project will pinpoint knowledge gaps, data limitations, and priority research needs through evidence mapping, bibliometric analyses, and assessment of data completeness. Studies will be categorized by matrix, region, compound class, management practice, design, and environmental conditions to quantify coverage and highlight underrepresented areas. Metadata such as analytical methods, temporal information, environmental covariates, and treatment characteristics will be evaluated to identify literature limitations and opportunities for new data collection and model development. Results will inform exploratory analyses and monitoring priorities.
Given the challenge of monitoring over 23,000 PFAS compounds (standard methods only cover 30-50), the project will examine total fluoride as a potential screening indicator. Total fluoride concentrations will be analyzed across key U.S. study areas and compared with known PFAS sources to identify possible contamination. Statistical summaries, correlation analyses, and predictive evaluations will assess the utility of total fluoride measurements under varied conditions. Suspected contaminated agricultural sites will be sampled. Findings will clarify where total fluoride can help prioritize PFAS sampling and where compound-specific testing remains necessary.
The project will integrate literature review findings with monitoring data from a mixed-use watershed in northwest Arkansas to identify PFAS sources, characterize contamination patterns, and evaluate transport pathways. GIS data on watershed characteristics, land use, and pollution sources, paired with statistical analyses, will link observed PFAS concentrations to agricultural, municipal, industrial, and other sources. This integration will improve interpretation of watershed observations and inform future monitoring strategies.
All findings will be translated into public products, including curated datasets, evidence maps, statistical summaries, visualizations, technical reports, and scientific publications. These outputs will support predictive modeling, exposure assessment, monitoring design, and PFAS management in agricultural systems. Data products will be organized for reproducibility, future expansion, and use by researchers, agencies, and stakeholders in PFAS research and watershed management.