Center for PFAS Research

What is PFAS?

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class that includes at least 4,000 chemicals. Many of these have been used in fire-fighting foams for fuel fires, water and stain-resistant coatings for furniture, carpeting, footwear, textiles, paper food packaging and more. Unlike the case for nearly all other organic pollutants, PFAS in soil and water are not degraded by biological or biogeochemical processes.

Mission

The main goals of the Center for PFAS Research are to quantify and communicate PFAS risks, and mitigate their impacts on human health, agriculture and natural resources. To accomplish this, researchers aim to:

• Quantify exposure and risk for humans, livestock, crops, fish and wildlife.
• Develop and test remediation strategies and technologies.
• Explore safer PFAS alternatives.

Vision

The Center for PFAS Research is positioned as a center of excellence at MSU that will be a go‐to location for PFAS research as it pertains to contamination of agricultural and natural resources in the state of Michigan, the U.S. and the world. Researchers are working with state government and other relevant stakeholders with an interest in PFAS-related issues.