The first round of funding sought to address critical gaps in understanding PFAS contamination in various environmental matrices (e.g. water, soil, air, food), its impact on agricultural systems, human health, aquatic ecosystems, other natural systems, and the overall economy of Maine. Projects prioritized engagement with stakeholders, including farmers, community groups, and regulatory agencies. The awardees for round 1 of funding are listed below.

Matthew Chatfield and Dianne Kopec
Investigating PFAS at the intersection of human and wildlife food webs: Concentrations in wild-crafted foods and in invertebrates in wild turkey and domestic poultry food webs

Abstract: The consequences of PFAS contamination of agricultural fields from wastewater sludge applications extend beyond crops grown on the impacted fields. Wild- crafted plants and fungi foraged from Maine riparian areas, forests, and fields may be contaminated with PFAS if adjacent to contaminated agricultural fields or streams. In collaboration with the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association and the Wabanaki community, we propose to sample a range of wild-crafted plants and fungi, directly paired with soil samples, to document the potential human exposure to PFAS from this food source and the rate of PFAS uptake from the soil. Similarly, terrestrial invertebrates, notably snails and slugs, are consumed as part of the seasonal diets of both wild turkeys and free-ranging domestic poultry. As primary consumers these invertebrates may bioaccumulate PFAS, increasing the dietary exposure to wild turkeys and domestic poultry. Our samples will be analyzed at the STEEP analytical laboratory, an NIH-funded facility at the University of Rhode Island. Understanding the movement of PFAS in the broader food web will clarify previously unknown avenues for human exposure, while identifying potential food-web PFAS exposures to non-game wildlife.

Barbara Cole
Identifying and quantifying total fluoroalkyl substances in environmental samples using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Abstract: The standard methods for the detection and quantification of PFAS are liquid chromatography- tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods. These methods are expensive, time- consuming, and account for only a portion of the total PFAS in a sample because only specific compounds are analyzed. Additionally, smaller fluoroalkyl compounds, which are commercial PFAS replacements or products of PFAS degradation, are not detected using LC-MS. Analysis of these substances will be critical especially as PFAS remediation and degradation methods are developed. The proposed approach will develop sample preparation protocols and 19F-NMR analysis methods to analyze agricultural samples, such as soil, compost, milk, meat, grass, legumes, grain, and other plants. Simultaneously, the project will partner with PFAS researchers and growers in Maine to provide practical and timely PFAS results. The NMR methods we are proposing will be applicable across a wide range of materials, providing farmers and producers supplemental information to be used to assess initial PFAS composition (i.e. total PFAS plus all other fluorinated components) and the results of subsequent mitigation, remediation, and degradation measures.

Gulsun Akdemir Evrendilik
Advancing holistic solutions for understanding and reducing PFAS contamination in seafood toward sustainable fishery communities in Maine and beyond

Abstract: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination threatens seafood safety and Maine’s seafood industry. This interdisciplinary project holistically addresses knowledge gaps in PFAS contamination and abatement in clams (Mya arenaria) by integrating seafood bioaccumulation and processing experiments, field data collection, and community collaboration. This project aims to: (1) measure PFAS in clams from Harpswell Cove following the Brunswick Naval Air Station aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) spill; (2) quantify the effects of ozonation, ultraviolet, and high-pressure processing on clam tissue PFAS levels through factorial experimental design; (3) design holistic and collaborative solutions to ensure seafood safety and quality; and (4) employ field data collection, multivariate (geo)statistical techniques, and predictive models to analyze PFAS concentrations under diverse environmental conditions and scenarios. Previously established community relationships and collected seafood samples related to the Brunswick spill, along with future data from this grant, will be used to secure additional funding from external agencies (e.g., USDA and EPA). Through partnerships with local fishermen, policymakers, and community members, this project will co-develop sustainable seafood processing practices. Expected outcomes include enhanced knowledge of PFAS bioaccumulation and abatement via validated seafood processing methods, and development of a decision-making process driven by both data and outreach to improve seafood safety and community resilience in Maine and beyond.

Pauline Kamath
PFAS in Maine’s native game species: Understanding concentrations and effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in wild turkeys, deer, and moose

Abstract: Wildlife accumulate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in their tissues through foraging on contaminated land. This exposure poses health threats to the animals and hunters, with the consumption of wild game being a critical and understudied PFAS exposure pathway for humans. In Maine, hunting is a culturally and economically important activity and game species represent a vital subsistence food source, particularly for indigenous communities, yet limited data exist on PFAS contamination levels in game, such as wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and moose (Alces alces), representing a major shortcoming in our understanding of human PFAS exposure through Maine food systems. We propose to quantify 54 different PFAS in archived blood samples collected through partnerships with Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) and Penobscot Nation Department of Natural Resources (PNDNR) over the past 7 years from >600 turkeys, >1100 deer, and >700 moose across the state. We will assess associations between elevated PFAS levels and health indices including survival and reproduction rates, infection states, and microbiome diversity. We will also evaluate our findings in relation to potential hunter PFAS exposure. Intended outcomes include peer-reviewed publications, presentations, and hunting management recommendations for state and tribal wildlife biologists.

Juan Romero
Enhancing PFAS sequestration by cationic feed binders to decontaminate dairy and beef products in Maine and building UMaine’s capacity to evaluate the effects of PFAS on blood metabolites and cell counts in animal studies

Abstract: We aim to prevent dairy and beef product contamination by blocking PFAS absorption in animals through dietary PFAS binders. Our preliminary results with binders showed that an anion exchange resin, safe for livestock, and a modified natural feed byproduct (NFB) can sequester PFAS under ruminal conditions without affecting digestion, achieving up to 90% and 26% binding of PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate), respectively, compared to controls. This project will evaluate how modifications—such as temperature, pressure, fractionation, and additional ingredients—affect NFB’s ability to sequester PFOS under simulated ruminal conditions. We also plan to investigate plant-based binders for PFAS sequestration. Experiments will follow a randomized complete block design. Digestive fluid samples will be analyzed for PFAS levels and ruminal fermentation profiles. Additionally, funding will purchase blood cell count and chemistry analyzers to quickly analyze blood samples, helping us better understand PFAS effects on animal health.

Rachel Schattman
In situ PFAS filtration from agricultural drainage in Maine farmlands using recycled waste [steel manufacturing] materials

Abstract: Both tile drainage and historic biosolid spreading on agricultural fields are widespread in Maine, and we anticipate that perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-contaminated leachate is being concentrated in tile drainage outlet areas. The concentrated nature of drainage streams presents a unique opportunity to treat agricultural leachate and remove PFAS from agroecosystems. Through this project, we will develop preliminary data to test an innovative, cost-effective water filtration system utilizing recycled materials. Steel byproducts, which are high-iron waste materials generated during manufacturing, have demonstrated significant potential as adsorbents of PFAS. This project will integrate a filter of steel chips and slags to achieve simultaneous removal of nitrate (N), phosphate (P), and PFAS from drainage water (leachate). If this project is successful, future work will include in situ filtration systems that can be installed at agricultural drainage tile outlets, specifically those that feed into surface water or wetlands. We anticipate this will interrupt contamination of nearby drinking wells and surrounding ecosystems, and re-contamination of agricultural land from irrigation water derived from ground and/or surface water. Outreach activities will ensure that our findings are shared with both scholarly and agricultural communities in Maine and beyond.