New Research Group at U of A Studies PFAS Regulation
The U of A Udall Center for Public Policy recently announced the creation of a new research group, the Research in Pollutant Policy for Environment and Society (RIPPLES) lab, to assess frameworks for regulating per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Although researchers across the university already collaborate to understand the impacts of PFAS in nature and society, this is the first group studying the topic from a policy perspective.
Currently, it is estimated that over 15,000 types of PFAS chemicals are produced in the US. They are used in a wide range of products for their unique properties of water, grease, and heat resistance. The qualities that make them useful also make them an environmental contamination threat, as they are not easily broken down by natural processes and persist for decades or longer in the environment. U of A researchers Gemma Smith, Adriana Zuniga-Teran, and Andrea K. Gerlak are leading the RIPPLES lab, which seeks to answer questions on effective policies to mitigate the impact of PFAS contamination on communities. Smith explained, “what we’re trying to do is make sense of how science should bridge into policy and at the appropriate level…”
In other PFAS news, the U of A is also hosting the 2026 National PFAS Conference this coming June 8–10. The conference is open to anyone interested in learning more about PFAS with an emphasis on community impacts, Indigenous perspectives, and management strategies in arid regions.