Research for understanding PFAS uptake and bioaccumulation in plants and animals in agricultural, rural, and tribal communities
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- EPA-G2023-STAR-J1
- Applications due
- Award size
- Up to $1,600,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Environment
- Eligible applicants
-
- Other
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Environmental Protection Agency seeks applicants to conduct research on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances uptake and bioaccumulation in plants and animals within agricultural, rural, and tribal communities. Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, hospitals, state and local governments, federally recognized tribal governments, and non-profit organizations. Applicants must propose novel, multidisciplinary research to understand perfluoroalkyl substance accumulation in crops and livestock while exploring mitigation strategies and scalable solutions. Applications are due by December 6, 2023 and will be evaluated based on furthering the goals of the Science to Achieve Results program to understand and mitigate impacts of contamination while protecting public health.
The agency expects to award approximately five grants totaling $8 million under this opportunity. Individual awards will be up to $1.6 million over a maximum four-year period to fund research conducted through January 2027. Funded projects aim to provide information to guide agricultural management of perfluoroalkyl substances and reduce exposure from the food supply in impacted communities.
Synopsis
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of manufactured chemicals that have been widely used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s. PFAS are resistant to environmental and metabolic degradation and can build up in the environment and the human body over time [1]. The substances may be found in soil, air, water, and food as well as in materials in homes or workplaces (e.g., fire extinguishing foam, food packaging, biosolids, personal care packaging, etc.) [2,3]. Due to their widespread use, most people in the United States have been exposed to some level of PFAS. Exposure to certain PFAS may lead to detrimental health impacts including reproductive effects, developmental effects, increased risks of cancers, weakening of the immune system, and endocrine system disruption [4,5]. Agriculture and PFAS chemicals can intersect through soil, air, and water. These resources may be contaminated through dust particles, application of biosolid residues, and leaching [6,7,8,9].
A large portion of current PFAS research has prioritized data generation and information collection through theoretical science instead of practical application. Identifying, characterizing, and understanding PFAS uptake within agricultural environments will provide vital information related to exposure pathways and will help inform the development of scalable solutions. Research is essential to increase knowledge related to biological uptake in agricultural and rural settings, improve farm viability, and to explore approaches to understand PFAS accumulation in plants and animals. Future research should build upon previous foundations and develop science that has the potential to guide scalable on-farm solutions. Further research is needed to explore the exposure mechanisms of PFAS, develop mitigation strategies, and increase the general knowledge of PFAS and its health risks.
EPA is soliciting novel research that proposes innovative and multidisciplinary approaches to better understand PFAS uptake in plants and animals in agricultural environments. PFAS mitigation and contamination prevention strategies should also be an aspect of the research.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| EPA-G2023-STAR-J1 (FINAL).pdf | ||
| EPA-G2023-STAR-J1 (Mod 1).pdf |
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