Developing and Deploying a Risk Framework for PFAS Management in Rural America

Connecting Predictive Models of PFAS Contamination with Risk Perceptions to Guide Management Decisions

Location: University of Maine
Sponsor: Water Resources Research Institute National Competitive Grants Program (104g)

Team Members:

Participating Graduate Students

Sonia Moavenzadeh, UMaine Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Melissa Godin, UMaine School of Economics

Applying biosolids to farm fields This project uses an integrated risk framework to quantify and communicate the threat of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) contamination to the resilience and livelihoods of rural areas. To achieve this goal, the team is implementing a collaborative, integrated, interdisciplinary research project to address three objectives: 1) identify factors that predict PFAS fate and transport near biosolids agricultural application areas to develop vulnerability models for groundwater (GW) resources; 2) determine barriers to scientific information uptake and implementation of management strategies; and 3) provide a research blueprint for replication of the approach to benefit PFAS-impacted rural communities.

Across the United States, there is growing concern about the widespread occurrence of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in our water, our food, and our bodies stemming from exposure through landfills, pesticides, atmospheric deposition, consumer products and fire suppressants. This is particularly true in rural America, where the land application of municipal and industrial biosolids to agricultural fields or septage disposal sites may be further contributing to PFAS contamination in groundwater (GW) and surface water (SW). Importantly, heavy reliance on private wells for drinking water in these regions drives an urgent need for innovative research to quantify both real and perceived risks and guide management decisions to minimize the threats of PFAS contamination to water resources, rural resiliency, public health, and economic well-being. Understanding the factors that contribute to PFAS fate, persistence and transport in rural areas is essential. However, this information may be insufficient for guiding management decisions and informing stakeholders without concurrent research focused on the individuals and communities whose livelihoods and wellbeing are threatened by this contamination. Many citizens and communities find it difficult to understand the scientific issues involved in complex environmental challenges. Moreover, rural areas consistently display lower trust in scientists and institutions that are responsible for gathering and interpreting data as demonstrated by marked vaccine hesitancy in rural areas during the COVID-19 pandemic. To address the multifaceted nature of the complex challenges that PFAS pose to rural areas, an interdisciplinary team of natural scientists, social scientists, environmental engineers and data scientists is studying the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of PFAS science and management.

The team is integrating unique environmental data sets and employing novel Linear Solvation Energy Relationship (LSER) modeling & machine learning to predict the likelihood that GW in rural areas exceeds PFAS advisory thresholds, thus quantifying risks to rural dwellers. The team is also capturing risk perceptions and potential mitigation actions of rural residents, creating opportunities to improve their understanding of PFAS science and how that science might benefit their community. The project uses an integrated risk framework to quantify and communicate the threat of PFAS contamination to rural areas’ resilience and livelihoods.

Project Update

The interdisciplinary team continues to engage in multiple research efforts focused on the impacts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Research included investigating multiple social science questions, such as impacts of negative media on consumer willingness to purchase Maine food and testing messaging that may counteract erosion of consumer confidence. The team recently partnered with state agencies to begin considering the impacts of PFAS contaminated water and environmental systems on wild game animals, and the humans who consume them. They continue to study how PFAS moves through different soil profiles and waste collection systems. Additionally, the team employs modeling to determine areas that, while perhaps currently untested, are most likely to contain PFAS and therefore need attention. The team has shared our research through multiple events discussing the presence and implications of PFAS on Maine’s agri-environmental systems and the opportunity for this research to inform efforts in other areas.

Products

Publications

Ghaznavi, S. M., Choudhary, M., Hannan, M., Hettiarachchi, G. M., & Apul, O. G. (2025). A Critical Review of Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Adsorption by Soil. Journal of Hazardous Materials: Organics, 100001.
Ghaznavi, S. M., Azua, A. J. F., Kopec, A. D., Cruzatty, L. Z., & Apul, O. G. (2024). Permeation of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-laden leachate in landfills as an outcome of puncture failures of high-density polyethylene geomembranes. Environmental Pollution, 363, 125234.

Related Projects

Noblet is working with University of Rhode Island and University of Delaware colleagues to analyze a New England survey on averting behavior regarding PFAS in drinking water
MacRae and others are working on a project assessing PFAS contamination of seafood and how processing methods influence concentrations
MacRae is working on anaerobic digestion of biosolids method including hydrochar produced from biosolids to extract energy, reduce the mass of contaminated material to be managed, and recover nutrients

Presentations

Noblet, C.L., Invited Panelist “PFAS: Defining Essential and Non-Essential Uses, Researching and Developing Alternatives, Recycling/Reusing in Closed Loop Systems, and Developing Innovative Destruction Methods”. National Academies, Meeting of the Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology. May 7, 2025.
Noblet, C.L., Invited Presentation. “Socio-Economic Impacts on Farming Communities” Identifying and Prioritizing Research and Programmatic Needs in the Detection, Mitigation and Remediation of PFAS in Agriculture and Food Systems. (collaborative conference; USDA-ARS and University of Maine). September 10-12, 2024 Arlington, VA. https://www.ars.usda.gov/natural-resources-and-sustainable-agricultural-systems/soil-and-air/docs/pfas-challenges/
Godin, M., Noblet, C. L., & Furtado, C. (2025, February 25). Impact of PFAS on anglers and the consumption of wild caught freshwater fish in Maine [Presentation]. PFAS in Maine Agriculture and Food Systems Research Convening at Colby College’s Buck Lab for Climate and Environment, Waterville, Maine
Furtado, C., Godin, M., Penlington, P., & Noblet, C. L. (2025, March 27). PFAS in Maine Wildlife: How an Emerging Contaminant Impacts Hunting and Angling Behaviors [Poster Presentation]. Maine Sustainability and Water Conference, Augusta, Maine
Godin, M. & Noblet, C. L. (2025, March 27). Geospatial Integration of PFAS Survey Data: Spatial Trends In Concern, Trust, and Knowledge [Poster Presentation]. Maine Sustainability and Water Conference, Augusta, Maine.
Noblet, C.L. (2025, June 9). PFAS and Public Trust: Understanding the Impact of consumption advisories on Maine Anglers and Hunters. [Conference Presentation]. Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association. Burlington, Vermont.
Noblet, C.L. (2025, June 16). Game of Zones: PFAS Advisories and the Hunt for Public Confidence. [Conference Presentation]. New England Experimental Economics Workshop. University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA.
Godin, M., and Noblet, C.L. (14 May, 2025) From Toxins to Tides – Insights from Environmental Economics on PFAS and Flood Risk Through a One Health Lens. [Presentation]. One Health and the Environment Network Symposium. University of Maine, Orono.
Godin, M, and Shea, M. (8 Nov, 2024) PFAS through a One Health Lens. [Presentation] School of Biology Seminar Series. Mitchell Center, University of Maine, Orono.
Godin, M. and Noblet, C.L. (14 June 2025) PFAS from the Perspective of a Social Scientist. [Presentation]. Interdisciplinary PFAS Workshop. Mount Desert Biological Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine.
Godin, M. & Noblet, C. L. (2025, April 11). Geospatial Integration of PFAS Survey Data: Spatial Trends In Concern, Trust, and Knowledge [Poster Presentation]. UMaine Student Symposium. [Graduate Interdisciplinary Research Award]
Refulio-Coronado, S.; Messer, K.; Noblet, C.; and Uchida, E. (June 9, 2025) Impact of personalized information on individuals’ decisions to mitigate forever chemicals: Evidence from an online randomized evaluation. Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association. Burlington, Vermont.
Alulema-Pullupaxi, P., Moavenzadeh Ghaznavi, S., Hatinoglu, D., Mensah, K., Ortiz, S., Evrendilek, F., & Apul, O. G. (2025, May). Predictive model development for adsorption of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by using molecular connectivity indices (MCIs) and soil properties . AEESP 2025 Research and Education Conference, Durham, NC. May 2025 (Poster Presentation).
Moavenzadeh Ghaznavi, S., Apul, O. “Adsorption of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Biosolids-Applied Soils at Variable Depths”, 2025 AEESP Research & Education Conference, Durham, North Carolina, May 2025 (Poster presentation).
Moavenzadeh Ghaznavi, S., Apul, O. Partitioning of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Soil Horizons Impacted by Biosolids. Northeast Residuals & Biosolids Conference 2024, Providence, RI, November 2024 (Poster Presentation)
Moavenzadeh Ghaznavi, S., Apul, O. Partitioning of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in the Soil Horizon: A Study to Understand Soils Impacted by PFAS-laden Biosolids in Maine. AEHS Foundation Conference, Amherst, MA. October 2024 (Poster presentation).

Awards/Achievements

Noblet named Theme Lead for USDA’s PFAS Center for Excellence at UMaine (Theme: Communication and Education)
Godin received the Graduate Interdisciplinary Research Category Award at the 2025 UMaine Student Symposium for “Geospatial Integration of PFAS Survey Data: Spatial Trends In Concern, Trust, and Knowledge” [Poster Presentation].
Sonia Moavenzadeh achieved 2nd place in the Student Poster Contest at the Northeast Biosolids & Residuals Association (NEBRA), November 2024.
Sonia Moavenzadeh achieved the Best Poster Award at the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP) Conference, Durham, NC, May 2025.

Education/Outreach Activities

Noblet was a member of the organizing team for the PFAS in Maine Agriculture and Food Systems Research Convening at Colby College’s Buck Lab for Climate and Environment, Waterville, Maine. February 2025.
Noblet and Godin helped connect multiple groups across UMaine and the broader community, resulting in a workshop at Mount Desert Biological Lab in June 2025 designed to improve coordination and interdisciplinary collaboration on PFAS issues in Maine.
Noblet and Godin facilitated classroom presentations in the spring semester of 2025 to UMaine School of Economics for students about how economists can contribute to environmental and interdisciplinary research.

Other Activities

Noblet was an Invited Radio Guest. The Maine Outdoors. Voice of Maine Radio. Topic: PFAS and Maine Wildlife Survey. May 12, 2025. https://www.wvomfm.com/episode/the-maine-outdoors-05-12-2025/
MacRae provided perspective and background to reporter Lori Valigra (BDN) about EPA announcement on PFAS contamination (May 1, 2025)

Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions