PFAS Research at UMaine Receives $2.25M From the State

Researchers at the University of Maine have been awarded a total of $2.25 million in funding from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) to study a group of chemicals known as PFAS in order to help commercial farmers manage its presence. 

The UMaine awards, which are directed to faculty members associated with the university’s Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station (MAFES),University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Maine College of Engineering and Computing, constitute five of the seven PFAS-related funded projects announced on April 29.

According to DACF, PFAS has impacted 90 Maine farms to varying degrees. It can cycle through soil, water, plants, animals and humans once released into the environment. Health effects linked to PFAS exposure include decreased vaccine response, increased cholesterol levels, reduced infant and fetal growth, heightened risk of certain cancers and pregnancy complications.

“The state’s investment fortifies our commitment to protect and inform Mainers through research and its application,” said UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy. “In a highly competitive selection process, the state chose five research projects proposed by our faculty that will help us detect PFAS in soil, understand how it is absorbed by plants and animals and remediate its presence on Maine farms.” 

“By investing in our research, the state has once again proven its confidence in UMaine research and its commitment to protecting the health and wellbeing of all Mainers” said Diane Rowland, dean of the College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences and director of MAFES. “We lead Maine in PFAS research and will leverage additional funding sources to form a true partnership with the state, one that is grounded in the needs of Maine’s agricultural sector.” 

Ling Li, associate professor of sustainable bioenergy systems in the School of Forest Resources, received $467,240 for her research on mixing biochar in soil to reduce PFAS bioaccumulation in edible parts of vegetable crops, such as lettuce and tomatoes. Li aims to develop actionable solutions for farmers to manage contaminated soils. The project will develop guidance on how much biochar they would need to use in their soil and how often it would need to be reapplied.

Ellen Mallory, professor in the School of Food and Agriculture and UMaine Extension specialist, received $499,995 for her research on how the PFAS compound perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) accumulates in livestock feed. Mallory aims to understand more about how certain soil compounds influence PFOS uptake from the soil to human food systems through products such as milk and meat. 

Sharmila Mukhopadhyay, director of the Frontier Institute for Research in Sensor Technologies and professor of mechanical engineering, received $496,432 for her work on developing rapid PFAS-detecting sensors. Mukhopadhyay’s device could streamline PFAS detection on farms by allowing farmers to test their soil for the chemical onsite, a process that currently can take over a week and cost hundreds of dollars.

Glenda Pereira Parente, assistant professor of animal science in the School of Food and Agriculture and UMaine Extension dairy specialist, received $499,989 to guide PFAS mitigation strategies for livestock by modeling how it bioaccumulates. Parente will focus on how PFAS moves through the bodies of dairy sheep and lambs during gestation, lactation and depuration, as well as the effects of feeding management practices during the weaning phase.

Xiaoxiao Zhao, assistant professor of materials science and engineering, received $284,869 for his research on creating energy-efficient technology to break down PFAS in soil without harming soil health. Zhao’s project will use activated carbon coated on a plasma electrode to capture PFAS in soil, a method that would break the stubborn bonds that earned PFAS the nickname “forever chemicals,” instead of trapping it like current methods, and refresh the soil’s ability to capture it.

These researchers are among many UMaine faculty members working together on a variety of PFAS research projects and outreach as part of the university-wide efforts to quickly and effectively address solutions for forever chemicals.