per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances

⚡PFAS stands for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. Simply put, PFAS are man-made compounds synthesized in a laboratory. ''They were first made in the 1940s. Teflon was one of the very first developments of PFAS. PFAS is a universe of chemicals useful for lots of different consumer and industrial applications over the last 60 to 70 years. These include things like firefighting foam, stain repellents on carpets and textiles, and also mist suppressants to protect workers in chromium plating activities.''

⚡We all have the right to clean water, hence the necessity for testing it for PFAS. Although we can get exposed to PFAS in all sorts of ways, we are primarily interested in determining whether our drinking water supplies have been exposed to these chemicals. ''Water is one of the things that we all require. We can be exposed to PFAS through food and contact with materials that contain PFAS. But we all have to drink water, and because of the mobility and the persistence of PFAS, it's important for us to understand this base level exposure that we could potentially have from our water supplies.''

⚡Over 96% of Americans have PFAS in their blood. The statistics may seem concerning, however, Dr. Ferguson shares advice on how we can minimize exposure to these chemicals. ''My kids and wife always tell me I cook like an 80-year-old grandmother. I use cast iron pots, stainless steel, and no Teflon in the kitchen. Also, choose a water filter that can help to remove PFAS. And then, in terms of the products you buy, things like clothing. Try to avoid things that have fluoridated stain repellents on them. That does a couple of things. First of all, it protects you because you've chosen a material that doesn't contain PFAS, but it also puts pressure on the manufacturer.''

Steve Pelham, Vice President, Jacobs Aviation—Americas, leads Jacobs’ Americas Aviation market, providing strategic advisory consulting and project delivery oversight services to our clients and aviation project teams. Leveraging more than 30 years of experience in airport planning, environmental, design, engineering, architecture, security, and program management and construction management (PM/CM), he delivers solutions and services to respond to our client’s challenges. Steve supports international, domestic and military airport projects of all sizes and levels of complexity across the U.S. and around the world. Steve’s commitment to and passion for aviation has driven his long-term involvement in numerous professional organizations focused on the latest technologies, project approaches, best practices and emerging issues. Steve has participated in various committees with the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), Airports Council International and Airport Consultants Council (ACC).  He is currently a member of the Aero Club of Washington and serves on the boards of ACC, ACI World Business Partners, the International Association of Airport Executives, AMAC, and Tony Janus Distinguished Aviation Society.

Bill DiGuiseppi is a 30+ year experienced Principal Hydrogeologist with Jacobs in their Denver office. Bill is an expert in the history, occurrence and remediation of 1,4-dioxane and PFAS, and leads Jacobs Emerging Contaminants Community of Practice. He frequently conducts PFAS training for a variety of groups, including the Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council (ITRC), American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), Transportation Research Board (TRB), US EPA, the US DOD, the US DOE and the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME). Bill has been actively engaged with the ITRC PFAS Team as the Treatment Technology Writing Subgroup Co-Chair and instructor on several PFAS topics for several years, and has been invited as session keynote and luncheon speaker for international conferences in the US, Europe and Australia. Bill is the Vice Chair for Emerging Issues for the SAME National Environmental Community of Interest (COI) and is a regular speaker for SAME national and Denver Metro Post events. Bill is also an adjunct faculty member in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the Colorado School of Mines. 

Bob Cipolletti is a 35-year experienced Principal Hydrogeologist with Jacobs in its Boston office. Bob is an environmental professional with expertise in management of construction related materials and the remediation and redevelopment of impaired properties, for a wide range of industries including aviation. He works closely with design and construction teams addressing concerns associated with environmental issues early in the design process centered on management of contaminated media management. Bob leads Jacob’s Aviation Environmental Community of Practice that includes a team of experts that cover air, noise, environmental permitting, sustainability, carbon reduction, waste management planning, and emerging contaminants, in addition to site characterization and remediation services. Bob is a member of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) PFAS Working Group and ACI-NA Environmental Affairs Committee.