New USDA PFAS research center at UMaine highlighted by E&E News, BDN
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is launching a new center for researching and finding solutions to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are found in Maine’s water and land and have been linked to liver disease and high cholesterol, at the University of Maine. E & E News by Politico and the Bangor Daily News reported on the PFAS Center for Excellence, which will be created by renovating an existing USDA laboratory on campus. U.S. Sen. Susan Collins said UMaine has led efforts to address PFAS and the $17 million funding will further support those efforts. Jake Ward, vice president of strategic partnerships, innovation, resources and engagement, spoke to E & E News and the BDN about the new center. He told the BDN that the project will build on PFAS work already being conducted by UMaine researchers. “We’re excited about this partnership because now we aggregate all of that under a USDA ARS center,” Ward said.