This data release presents chemical and biological results from an investigation of the uptake of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from groundwater contaminated by fire training activities on Cape Cod, Massachusetts conducted from July to August 2019. An exposure experiment was conducted at an a PFAS contaminated site (FTA-1) near the fire training area (FTA). To assess the tissue-specific uptake characteristics of the mixture of PFAS present in the groundwater from the FTA-1 site, a 21-day mobile laboratory exposure experiment was conducted. Details for the groundwater sampling sites and well construction are presented (Table 1). The PFAS mixture concentrations and composition in groundwater and in fish tissues was evaluated using 2 separate analytical methods (Table 2). PFAS quality assurance data are presented in Table 3. Water and tissue samples were collected on days 1, 7, and 21. Water chemistry results for target PFAS analysis are summarized in Table 4. Water chemistry results for suspect PFAS analysis are summarized in Table 5. Fish morphometric data are summarized in Table 6. Fish tissue PFAS target analysis results are presented in Table 7. Fish tissue PFAS suspect analysis results are presented in Table 8.

This data release presents chemical and biological results from an investigation of the uptake of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from groundwater contaminated by fire training activities on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Exposure experiments were conducted from August 29 to September 21, 2018 using groundwater from a relatively uncontaminated reference site and a fire training area contaminated site. To assess the uptake characteristics of the PFAS mixtures present in the 2 groundwater sources, 21-day mobile laboratory exposure experiments were conducted using fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas), polar organic chemical integrative samplers, and polyethylene tube samplers. Freshwater mussel (Ligumia subrostrata) exposure experiments were conducted for 14 days, beginning on day 7 of the fish and passive sampler exposures. Groundwater samples were collected daily (with a few exceptions). Samples for male fish and passive samplers were collected on days 0, 4, 7, 14, and 21. Samples for female fish were collected on days 0, 7, 14, and 21. The 14 day mussel exposures began on day 7 of the fish and passive sampler exposures, and mussel samples were collected on days 7, 11, 14, and 21. Groundwater site locations and well characteristics are presented in Table 1. Information on the various PFAS and co-occurring contaminants measured in the different media are presented in Table 2. Quality assurance results for PFAS analysis of the different media are presented in Table 3. Results for PFAS in groundwater are presented in Table 4. Results for co-occurring contaminants in groundwater are presented in Table 5. Results for fish biomarkers are presented in Table 6. Results for PFAS in male and female fish tissue are presented in Table 7. Results for PFAS in mussel tissue are presented in Table 8. Results for PFAS in polar organic chemical integrative samplers are presented in Table 9. Results for PFAS in polyethylene tube samplers are presented in Table 10.

The U.S. Geological Survey Toxic Substances Hydrology Program Cape Cod Research site has been the subject of intensive hydrological and geochemical investigations. The site has multiple sources of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), for which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued health advisories because of potential adverse human health effects. During 2014 and 2015, groundwater contamination by PFASs from a fire-training area and a wastewater treatment facility effluent infiltration beds, located on Joint Base Cape Cod, was assessed by collecting groundwater samples and sediment cores (Figures 1 and 2). The water and sediment samples were analyzed for a suite of PFASs using high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. First posted March 16, 2017 Revised March 24, 2017, ver. 1.1

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, 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.

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 concentration data tables were derived from multiple data sources: Barber and others, 2017; Ruyle and others, 2021; and Tokranov and others, 2021a and 2021b. 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.

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.

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.

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.