When it comes to putting out petroleum-based flames, Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) has been a firefighting hero for decades. But despite their ability to save lives, perfluorinated alkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pose a hidden threat.
These substances, which are essential to making firefighting foam, are persistent and may be harmful to human health, which makes them a major environmental concern. The favorable tidings? There is still hope in the fight against AFFF pollution. A new wave of inventive technology is changing the cleanup environment.
The most promising of these developments are covered in this essay, along with how they are transforming how we tackle this pressing environmental issue.
In This Content
The AFFF Task
Because AFFF foam is so good at putting out flammable liquid fires, it has been a mainstay in the firefighting industry for many years. However, because of its extensive use and the presence of PFAS, there has been major environmental contamination.
Known as “forever chemicals,” PFAS are persistent in the environment, finding their way into our water supplies and building up within the food chain. Research has connected their exposure to a number of health concerns, such as thyroid difficulties, certain malignancies, and developmental delays in children. Effective cleanup methods are desperately needed to protect the public’s health and remediate damaged areas.
Lawsuits have been filed in large numbers as a result of the environmental contamination that followed the fire departments’ widespread usage of the foam. A multidistrict litigation (MDL) involving AFFF litigation reached an astounding 8,270 pending cases as of June 1st, 2024.
According to TruLaw, these cases claim that the makers of firefighting foam neglected to disclose the health hazards connected to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The large number of instances highlights the contamination’s pervasive effects and the public’s growing anxiety about them.
The AFFF problem has several facets. As we switch to safer firefighting techniques, we also need to address current contamination and create long-lasting cleanup solutions. This article’s exploration of cleaning technology improvements offers some hope.
Innovations Revolutionizing AFFF Cleaning
Among the newest technologies used to remove AFFF contamination are:
1. Bioremediation: Using the Power of Nature
By employing microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi to degrade AFFF pollutants in soil and water, bioremediation leverages the power of nature. This method has a number of benefits, such as being sustainable, affordable, and appropriate for usage in isolated areas. Comparatively speaking to some other techniques, bioremediation could require longer cleanup timeframes.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) claims that Texas A&M AgriLife Research’s innovative method demonstrates the promise of bioremediation. This novel strategy combines a plant-based substance that degrades these “forever chemicals” with a microbial fungus that adsorbs PFAS.
While white rot fungi have demonstrated potential in the breakdown of PFAS, maintaining their development has been difficult.
In order to solve this, scientists used the leftovers from maize plants to develop a porous framework known as the Renewable Artificial Plant for In-Situ Microbial Environmental Remediation (RAPIMER). In comparison to other sorbents, RAPIMER showed better PFAS binding capabilities, removing PFOA and PFOS by over 98% and 99%, respectively, in less than two weeks.
These results point to PFAS’s biological breakdown into less hazardous byproducts, providing a viable means of cleaning up the environment.
2. Plasma Technology: An Advanced Technology
A formidable opponent in the war against AFFF pollution is plasma technology. This novel approach directly addresses the problem by using plasma, a high-energy ionized gas. Complex PFAS molecules are efficiently broken down into simpler, safe chemicals by the supercharged gas stream.
This technology offers a considerable advantage over some existing methods due to its exceptional performance against a wide spectrum of PFAS compounds. The powerful energy breaks the molecular links that hold PFAS molecules together, making them inert. The use of plasma technology to remediate contaminated water, soil, and even equipment surfaces exposed to firefighting foam is extremely promising.
Although there is no denying plasma’s destructive potential, efforts are still being made to enhance the technology. Enhancing affordability and efficiency is a primary goal.
3. Nanotechnology: Addressing the Fundamental Issue
The use of nanotechnology presents a novel method for AFFF cleanup. It makes use of nanoparticles, which are tiny soldiers made to attack the source of PFAS pollution. These particles have been specially designed to either degrade or absorb particular PFAS compounds.
This focused strategy has great potential. Compared to conventional techniques, the removal of PFAS can be achieved more effectively and selectively by tailoring nanoparticles to interact with particular PFAS components. They are also very good at absorbing pollutants due to their huge surface area, which may help remove them from soil and water.
Research has effectively produced a variety of nanomaterials for PFAS detection, elimination, and degradation, including sensors, adsorbents, and catalysts, according to ScienceDirect. When it comes to the ability to trap and destroy contaminants, these nanoparticles are superior to their bulk counterparts.
Notwithstanding the clear potential of nanotechnology, difficulties still exist. More research is needed to scale up these laboratory-tested technologies for large-scale cleanup efforts. Furthermore, it’s critical to guarantee these nanoparticles’ efficacy and safety in the environment.
Important factors to take into account are toxicity evaluations and the development of economical techniques for their recyclable or reusable materials.
4. Treatment with Photo-Electrochemistry
A promising new tool in the battle against pollution is photo-electrochemical therapy. This novel method breaks down PFAS and other dangerous chemicals by using ultraviolet (UV) radiation in combination with an electrochemical process.
Technology Networks reports that scientists have created a technique that combines the use of UV radiation with an electrochemical oxidation process using sulfite. These two strong partners efficiently degrade PFAS compounds found in water contaminated by AFFF.
There are a lot of benefits to this approach. It works especially effectively to cleanse wastewater that is extremely concentrated and produced when cleaning firefighting apparatus. It also has the potential to address PFAS in groundwater, a major environmental issue.
It may be used in conjunction with the current ion exchange techniques, which use resin beads to collect per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Combining these methods may allow for the regeneration and reuse of the resin beads, increasing the sustainability of the water treatment process as a whole.
Even though this technique is still in the early stages of development, it is a useful addition to the AFFF cleanup toolkit since it has the ability to treat highly contaminated water sources. Additional investigation is required to maximize its effectiveness and expandability. Nonetheless, there is a glimmer of optimism in the struggle for a cleaner future because of the power of light.
Commonly Asked Questions
Is AFFF being replaced somewhere?
Indeed, alternatives to the foam are being developed; they include foams free of fluorine and eco-friendly substitutes devoid of dangerous per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The goal of these new formulations is to minimize the effects on the environment and human health while still effectively suppressing fires.
How is AFFF foam cleaned up?
Start by using disposable paper towels to soak up any leftover residue before cleaning up the foam. Wash the affected area thoroughly with water, making sure to continue soaking up any leftover residue. After cleaning, place the soiled towels in a plastic bag and dispose of them properly.
Does AFFF foam get used anymore?
Indeed, AFFF foam is still in use today, mostly in the aviation and military industries, though usage of it is becoming more and more restricted owing to environmental concerns. There are continuous attempts to swap it out for safer substitutes devoid of dangerous PFAS compounds.
In conclusion, despite the complexity of the AFFF challenge, the scientific community is rising to the challenge. This article’s exploration of cutting-edge technologies provides a peek into a future in which efficient and sustainable cleanup methods are commonplace.
In order to maximize these technologies and make sure they are economical, environmentally safe, and efficient, more research and development will be needed in the future. To successfully manage this dilemma, cooperation between scientists, legislators, and the firefighting community is essential.
In the end, environmental preservation is only one aspect of the battle against AFFF pollution. It has to do with protecting the general public’s health and our firefighters’ safety. We can create a future free of “forever chemicals,” where everyone has access to clean water and a healthy environment, by utilizing science and ingenuity.