A site in north eastern MI, Oscoda Township, has some of the highest recorded exposure in birds to perfluorinated substances (PFASs) in the U.S. Some egg and plasma concentrations at that location exceeded the lowest reproductive effect threshold established for two avian laboratory species. The objectives of this study were to determine whether there were reproductive effects or physiological responses in a model bird species, the tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), associated with this extremely high exposure to PFASs. The lack of exposure above background to other contaminants at this site allowed for an assessment of PFAS effects without the complication that responses may be caused by other contaminants. A secondary objective was to determine the distribution of PFASs in multiple tissue types to better understand and interpret residues in different tissues. This can best be done at highly exposed locations where tissue concentrations would be expected to be above detectable levels if they are present in that tissue. There were no demonstrable effects of PFAS exposure on reproduction nor on most physiological responses.

Concentrations of Total40 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and Total13 PFAS were consistently higher at the AFFF sites compared to the two East Coast reference sites in tree swallow eggs, nestlings, and diet by as much as a factor of 40 times higher. Sites in the Upper Midwest with other PFAS sources also had substantial, but qualitatively lower concentrations of PFAS compared to the AFFF-source sites. Perfluorooctane sulfonate was the only PFAS detected in all samples in all matrices. Concentrations of most other PFAS, such as the carboxylates and fluorotelomers among other PFAS, did not differ between AFFF and reference sites indicating that most other PFAS were not a significant proportion of the foam formulations used at these DOD sites and that they entered the environment from other sources. Perhaps indicating that diet is the dominant vector of exposure to tree swallows, there was a high correlation between concentration of Total40 in the diet (flying insects) and concentrations in both eggs (r = 0.82) and nestling carcasses (r = 0.93). Perfluorohexane sulfonate, the second most common constituent of the legacy AFFF formulations, was <1% of the Total40 at the reference sites in both eggs and nestlings, but PFHxS comprised up to 9.7% (eggs) and 9.0% (nestlings) at AFFF-influenced sites so it may be a good indicator PFAS to identify historical AFFF sources. The daily probability of both egg and nestling survival was similar across all sites and there was no association between the probability of daily egg or nestling survival and Total40 PFAS. There was also no association between these two measures of reproductive success and concentrations of individual PFAS. Two immune response metrics (haptoglobin-like activity [PIT54] and total immunoglobulin Y [IGY]) did not differ among sites. There were few differences among sites for the other biomarker assessments nor correlations with PFAS concentrations.

Tree swallow nest boxes were deployed at sites proximal to two putative aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) sources in the Duluth, MN area, as well as along the St. Louis River and a reference lake for comparative purposes. The two AFFF sites were the current Duluth Air National Guard Base (ANG) and the Lake Superior College Emergency Response Training Center. Concentrations of between 13 and 40 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), depending on year, were quantified in tree swallow egg, nestling carcasses, and stomach contents. Assessments were made for oxidative stress and ethoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase biomarker responses in liver tissue, thyroid hormone levels in plasma and thyroid glands, DNA damage in red blood cells, and two measures of immune response (haptoglobin-like activity and immunoglobulin) in plasma of the nestlings. Additionally, other contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls, other legacy organochlorine pesticides, and trace elements were assessed at sites with no previous data. Total egg PFAS concentrations at the ANG site and north of there were 30 – 40 times higher than at the reference lake while nestling PFAS concentrations were 10 – 15 times higher than at the reference lake. In contrast, although the St. Louis River sites had slightly elevated egg and nestling PFAS concentrations relative to the reference lake (2 – 5 times higher), although those concentrations were not significantly higher. One PFAS, perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), was proportionately higher, as a proportion of total PFAS, at sites with a known AFFF source compared to the reference lake, but also compared to sites along the St. Louis River with mainly urban and industrial sources of PFAS. The ratio of total carboxylates to total sulfonates also distinguished between PFAS sources. There were few to no differences in biomarker responses among sites, and no association with PFAS exposure.

Dataset contains measured concentrations of PFAS analytes and limits of detection/quantification for 37 total samples. There are 82 total PFAS analytes (7 non-extracted internal standards, 24 extracted internal standards, and 51 target native analytes) and each individual sample has been quantified for all 82 of these compounds. Samples are extracts of plant tissues from three sources: Tucker Prairiegrass (a mix of orchardgrass and switchgrass collected from Tucker Prairie outside of Columbia, MO), dried switchgrass hay, and whole switchgrass vegetation (the latter two provided by Jason Masoner from the USGS Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center). These three sample types have been extracted using three different extraction procedures: the novel hypothesized method of PFAS extraction in plants, a method based on a procedure reported in Nassazzi, 2022, and a third method based on a procedure reported in Zhao, 2024 as part of an Agilent Technologies Application Note. This study evaluates the extraction performance of each of these three methods across different plant matrices.

Study reports for "Subchronic Toxicities of Four Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) by Oral Exposure in Sprague–Dawley Rats". This dataset is associated with the following publication: Kenyon, E., M. Devito, G. Patlewicz, L. Adams, R. Thomas, J. Ambroso, X. Yang, J. Blake, B. Upadhyay, J. Furr, and M. Hughes. Subchronic Toxicities of Four Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) by Oral Exposure in Sprague–Dawley Rats. Toxics. MDPI, Basel, SWITZERLAND, 13(7): 524, (2025).

This file contains data from accumulation of chloro perfluoro polyether carboxylate (Cl-PFPECA) and legacy perfluorocarboxylate PFAS in native vegetation and subsoil samples collected in New Jersey by New Jersey state government personnel. Samples were originally processed and extracted in Athens, GA EPA/ORD/NERL/EMMD laboratory by Tom Jenkins and John Washington. Samples were analyzed for PFAS on the Waters LC-MS/MS instruments in Athens, GA EPA/ORD/CEMM/EPD laboratory by Mary Davis, Marina Evich, and John Washington. Instrument output was reviewed and optimized by Mary Davis, Marina Evich, and John Washington. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Davis, M., M. Evich, S. Goodrow, and J. Washington. Environmental Fate of Cl-PFPECAs: Accumulation of Novel and Legacy Perfluoroalkyl Compounds in Real-World Vegetation and Subsoils. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, USA, 57(24): 8994–9004, (2023).

These data were collected to understand the occurrence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water samples at public water systems identified to have perfluorooctanoic acid or perfluorooctane sulfonic acid above laboratory reporting levels in previously collected raw-water samples, and provide a review of the analytical results. The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources will use this data to determine the potential risk to public health from PFAS contamination in these public water systems.

Link to the paper. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Naile, J., A.W. Garrison, J. Avants, and J. Washington. Isomers/enantiomers of perfluorocarboxylic acids: Method development and detection in environmental samples. CHEMOSPHERE. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, USA, 144: 1722-1728, (2016).

This data release provides the concentration results for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) collected on French Island, in the town of Campbell, Wisconsin, sampled quarterly beginning in 2021. These samples were collected from groundwater wells (potable and non-potable taps) by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Upper Midwest Environmental Science Center (UMESC). Three U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified laboratories were contracted to analyze samples for this study. Samples from the first sampling in 2021, were analyzed by SGS Axys Analytical Services Laboratory (SGS Axys) in British Columbia, Canada. Samples from the second sampling in 2021 were analyzed at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH), University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin. Subsequent samples were analyzed at Northern Lake Service, Inc. (NLS), Crandon, Wisconsin. All samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). UMESC used three analytical labs because of the dynamic nature of sampling needs and design that shifted from an initial determination of water-supply contamination to a quarterly sampling scheme. The initial laboratory (SGS Axys) was selected because of an existing contract for PFAS tissue analysis for research that allowed for rapid submission and results. The second laboratory (WSLH) was selected to meet Wisconsin PFAS monitoring criteria and improve sample delivery within the U.S. The third laboratory (NLS) was selected using the USGS acquisitions contract process to find a certified laboratory to accomplish the long-term monitoring sampling plan. All three laboratories were selected from the EPA list of PFAS certified laboratories. This version 2.0 data release updates the results table with more quarterly results for samples collected March 28, 2023-March 19, 2024. The full dataset lists quarterly sampling results collected between February 4, 2021-March 19, 2024. Revision history First release: December 2023 Revision 2.0: March 2025 Table titles including 'v2' are the version 2.0 files.

This data release provides the concentration results for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) collected on French Island, in the town of Campbell, Wisconsin, sampled quarterly beginning in 2021. These samples were collected from groundwater wells (potable and non-potable taps) by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Upper Midwest Environmental Science Center (UMESC). Three U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified laboratories were contracted to analyzed samples for this study. Samples from the first sampling in 2021, were analyzed by SGS Axys Laboratory (AXYS) in British Columbia, Canada. Samples from the second sampling in 2021 were analyzed at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH), University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin. Subsequent samples were analyzed at Northern Lake Service, Inc. (NLS), Crandon, Wisconsin. All samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS). UMESC used three analytical labs because of the dynamic nature of sampling needs and design that shifted from an initial determination of water-supply contamination to a quarterly sampling scheme. The initial laboratory (AXYS) was selected because of an existing contract for PFAS tissue analysis for research that allowed for rapid submission and results. The second laboratory (WSLH) was selected to meet Wisconsin PFAS monitoring criteria and improve sample delivery within the U.S. The third laboratory (NLS) was selected using the USGS acquisitions contract process to find a certified laboratory to accomplish the long-term monitoring sampling plan. All three laboratories were selected from the EPA list of PFAS certified laboratories.