Lake-bottom sediment and associated quality-control samples were collected in August 2020 from one coring location (U.S. Geological Survey station 413756070321301, ASHUMET POND, MASHPEE MI-ASHPD-0011) in Ashumet Pond downgradient from a former fire-training area on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The core was collected to determine if per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were present in the bottom sediments of a lake known to have elevated concentrations of PFAS in surface water and groundwater (Tokranov and others, 2021), and whether the sediments could act as a continuous source of PFAS to the lake. Processing the sediment core entailed collection of discrete samples at intervals ranging from 1-5 centimeters (cm) throughout the length of the 112-cm-long core. Radioisotopic dating analysis was performed along 1-cm intervals for the first 10 cm of sediment. A total of 23 sample intervals were submitted for analysis of 28 PFAS, total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN), and 57 sample intervals were submitted for grain size and dry bulk density analysis. Quality control (QC) samples included an aqueous equipment blank collected from the core barrel that was used for sediment sampling, a set of triplicate sediment samples, and laboratory-provided blanks. All QC samples were analyzed for 28 PFAS. Reference: Tokranov, A.K., LeBlanc, D.R., Pickard, H.M., Ruyle, B.J., Barber, L.B., Hull, R.B., Sunderland, E.M., and Vecitis, C.D., 2021, Surface-water/groundwater boundaries affect seasonal PFAS concentrations and PFAA precursor transformations: Environmental Science—Processes & Impacts, v. 23, no. 12, p. 1893-1905, https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EM00329A.

Groundwater, surface-water, and associated quality assurance samples were collected across western Cape Cod, Massachusetts and analyzed for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from September 2019 through November 2024. Water-quality properties measured at the time of sample collection included pH, specific conductance, temperature, and dissolved oxygen. Samples were also analyzed for other chemical constituents including major and selected minor inorganic constituents, nutrients, and pharmaceuticals. This data release contains three files, data dictionary and two datasets in tabular format: 1) DataDictionary_CapeCodPFAS_2019_2024.csv -- Definitions for parameters in each table. 2) CapeCodPFAS_2019_2024.csv -- Location information, field properties, and laboratory results for inorganic constituents, nutrients, and PFAS. 3) CapeCod_Pharmaceuticals_June2022.csv -- Site information and pharmaceutical results for a subset of samples collected at the Quashnet River in June 2022.

Groundwater, surface-water, sediment, and associated quality-control samples were collected downgradient from a former fire training area and wastewater infiltration beds on Cape Cod, Massachusetts and analyzed for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Samples were collected between July 2016 and February 2019 following U.S. Geological Survey protocols. Field parameters reported include temperature, pH, specific conductance, and dissolved oxygen. Samples were analyzed for chloride, bromide, nitrate, sulfate, and dissolved organic carbon. PFAS samples were extracted using offline solid phase extraction and were analyzed for 24 PFAS at Harvard University using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Perfluoroalkyl acid (PFAA) precursor concentrations in aqueous samples were estimated from PFAA formation following application of the total oxidizable precursor assay. Methods for sample collection and chemical analysis are described in Savoie and others (2012) and Tokranov and others (2021). Savoie, J.G., LeBlanc, D.R., Fairchild, G.M., Smith, R.L., Kent, D.B., Barber, L.B., Repert, D.A., Hart, C.P., Keefe, S.H., and Parsons, L.A., 2012, Groundwater-quality data for a treated-wastewater plume near the Massachusetts Military Reservation, Ashumet Valley, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2006-08: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 648, 11 p., 1 CD-ROM, http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/648/. Tokranov, A.K., LeBlanc, D.R., Pickard, H.M., Ruyle, B.J., Barber, L.B., Hull, R.B., Sunderland, E.M., and Vecitis, C.D., 2021, Surface-water/groundwater boundaries affect seasonal PFAS concentrations and PFAA precursor transformations: Environmental Science: Processes and Impacts, https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EM00329A.

Groundwater, surface-water, and associated quality assurance samples were collected downgradient of an abandoned fire training area and wastewater infiltration beds on western Cape Cod, Massachusetts and analyzed for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from 2014-2019. Water-quality properties measured at the time of sample collection include pH, specific conductance, temperature, and dissolved oxygen. Samples were also analyzed for other chemical constituents including major and selected minor inorganic constituents, nutrients, and UV absorbance. Although selected results have been previously published in several data releases, this data release includes the entire suite of field and chemical constituents. PFAS data tables are derived from multiple data sources: Barber and others, 2017; Ruyle and others, 2021; and Tokranov and others, 2021. Other field and chemical data were derived from those sources as well as from Hull and others, 2021 and Repert and others, 2023. PFAS data from different sources were converted to a uniform format. See related external resources for listed citations.

On October 12, 2022, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collected 13 shallow groundwater samples and two quality-control samples for analysis of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). Samples were collected in Hen Cove, Pocasset, Massachusetts by using USGS water-quality sampling protocols (Shoemaker and Tettenhorst, 2020). Groundwater environmental and quality control samples were analyzed at SGS (Orlando, FL) using EPA method 537.1m. Samples were collected from temporary push point samplers (manufactured by MHE Inc.) installed 20 to 60 centimeters below the cove bottom sediment. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. REFERENCES: Shoemaker, J., and Tettenhorst. D., 2020, Method 537.1, Determination of selected per- and polyflourinated alkyl substances in drinking water by solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS): U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA 600/R-20-006, https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_record_report.cfm?Lab=NERL&dirEntryId=343042. U.S Geological Survey (USGS), 2015, National Field Manual for the Collection of Water-Quality Data. U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, Book 9. https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/twri09.

This data release includes concentrations of 24 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and physical properties of water-quality samples collected by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) at 64 selected sites in rivers and streams in Massachusetts over three rounds of sampling. The samples were collected from August to November 2020 when streamflow conditions were below normal (also considered to be base-flow conditions) at rivers and streams in urban areas that receive treated wastewater from municipal wastewater-treatment facilities, and in rural rivers and streams that are not associated with municipal wastewater discharges and may have other source inputs of PFAS. The measured physical properties include water temperature, specific conductance, pH, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity and the quality-control data from blanks, replicates, laboratory control samples, and laboratory spike samples are provided. The physical properties, along with all of the discrete water-quality PFAS data, except the quality-control data, are also available online from the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water Information System (NWIS) database (https://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis). This data release is structured as a set of tab-delimited (.txt) files.The metadata includes descriptions of files: Site_Information.txt, Abbreviations_and_Remark_Codes.txt, and Analysis_Information.txt. This data release also includes a Data Dictionary (Data_Dictionary.txt) that is used to describe environmental sample data (Environmental_Data.txt), and Quality Control field and laboratory blank data (QC_Blanks.txt), field and laboratory replicate data (QC_Replicates.txt), and laboratory control sample and spike data (QC_Laboratory_Control_Samples_and_Spikes.txt).

In a study conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, detectable concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were found in the soil at every site despite targeting locations with no known PFAS sources (Santangelo and others, 2022). The widespread distribution of PFAS concentrations in New Hampshire has since sparked critical interest into understanding whether recharge to groundwater contains significant concentrations of PFAS after infiltration through soils. To address this concern, the USGS implemented a pilot study designed to evaluate whether PFAS infiltrate through shallow soil into shallow groundwater. Five sites were selected based on previously observed PFAS concentrations, soil type, aquifer materials, elevation, groundwater depth, and geographic location (Santangelo and others, 2022). At each sample site, one pushpoint sampler was installed down-slope of new soil sample points. At one sample site, two stainless steel lysimeters were installed at two varying depths above the water table, and up-slope of the pushpoint sampler. Seven shallow soil samples were submitted for PFAS, total organic carbon, and pH analysis. Twelve groundwater samples and four porewater samples were also submitted for PFAS analysis. Quality-control samples consisted of a source solution blank, three equipment blanks, and five sample duplicates. Reference: Santangelo, L.M., Tokranov, A.K., Welch, S.M., Schlosser, K.E.A., Marts, J.M., Drouin, A.F., Ayotte, J.D., Rousseau, A.E., and Harfmann, J.L., 2022, Statewide survey of shallow soil concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and related chemical and physical data across New Hampshire, 2021: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9KG38B5.

Data from a laboratory study undertaken at the U.S. Geological Survey to investigate solid/water partitioning of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in New Hampshire soils and biosolids are presented here. Soils and biosolids used for the experiments were collected using PFAS-free sampling equipment, air dried, gently homogenized, and sieved (soils only). Soil samples were collected from locations with known PFAS contamination (n = 5) and nearby sites with similar soil characteristics but low expected PFAS concentrations (n = 4). Finished biosolids were collected directly from facilities at the final stage of processing and before distribution. Air-dried soils and biosolids were then used for a series of batch and column experiments to determine water/solid distribution coefficient (Kd) values. This study investigated the impact of pH, ionic strength, adsorption versus desorption, soil/biosolid type, experimental setup (batch versus column), and influence of sodium azide on Kd values. All batch and column experiments were run for 10 days as determined by a 16-day kinetics test. The dataset presented here includes concentration of PFAS, concentration of PFAS post total oxidizable precursor assay (TOPA), pH, moisture content, total organic carbon concentrations, aluminum concentrations, iron concentrations, sodium concentrations, cation exchange capacity, anion exchange capacity, grain size, and protein concentrations for the unprocessed soil and biosolids collected from the site (soils) or facility (biosolids). These are denoted as "Environmental - Biosolid" or "Environmental - Soil" samples in the data release. The dataset also includes the solid and water results (PFAS, TOPA, pH, specific conductivity, dissolved organic carbon, major anions, and metals) from the batch and column experiments, along with the calculated Kd values. Calculated Kd values are presented for every PFAS compound with detections in the solid and water phases and, with caution, can be used to help constrain estimates for PFAS mobility in the New Hampshire environment.