GSI’s Hassan Javed and Graham K. Ansell, together with co-authors Frank Adamsky, Marco Malvasi, Paige K. Mulvaney, Pier Antonio Guarda, Robert H....
GSI’s Hassan Javed and Graham K. Ansell, together with co-authors Frank Adamsky, Marco Malvasi, Paige K. Mulvaney, Pier Antonio Guarda, Robert H. Moffett, Simone Genna, Steve Johnston and Xian Liang, have published a study titled “A Critical Review of the Application of Polymer of Low Concern and Regulatory Criteria to Perfluoropolyethers” in Journal of Fluorine Chemistry.
The paper examines perfluoropolyethers (PFPEs), a class of polymeric PFAS widely used as lubricants in aerospace, healthcare, automotive, and other sectors, and evaluates them against Polymers of Low Concern (PLC) criteria. The study finds that PFPEs, owing to their high stability, negligible bioaccumulation, and distinct physicochemical characteristics, pose minimal risk to human health and the environment. The authors emphasize that PFPEs should be evaluated as a separate class for regulatory purposes, distinct from non-polymeric PFAS.
Read the full article about regulatory criteria to perfluoropolyethers here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022113925000715
We’re proud to share a new publication in "Water Research": "Characteristics of aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) sites impacted with per- and...
We’re proud to share a new publication in “Water Research”: “Characteristics of aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) sites impacted with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): A 37-site study.”
Co-authored by Poonam Kulkarni, PE, Abigail Cartwright, PE, David T. Adamson, PhD, PE, John Cook, EIT, and Charles J. Newell, PhD, PE, BCEE of GSI, along with Nicolette E. Andrzejczyk and Arun Gavaskar, this article provides insight into PFAS concentration patterns in soil and groundwater at AFFF source zones across the U.S.
Key findings include:
• PFOS and PFOA are the primary contributors in soil, while groundwater concentrations show broader variability
• Maximum PFAS concentrations typically occur in the top one meter of soil
• Median inferred plume lengths for the seven PFAAs range from 220–800 meters
• PFOS, PFOA, and PFHxS contribute 99% of the estimated groundwater exceedance magnitude
Read the full paper about Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) sites impacted with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0043135425010310
We’re proud to share a new publication by GSI’s Graham K. Ansell, PhD and Hassan Javed, PhD titled "PFAS Analytical Methods – A Practical Guide," available...
We’re proud to share a new publication by GSI’s Graham K. Ansell, PhD and Hassan Javed, PhD titled “PFAS Analytical Methods – A Practical Guide,” available in the “Journal of Fluorine Chemistry.”
As PFAS science advances, so does the need for accurate and reliable analytical methods. This article offers a practitioner-focused overview of current PFAS methods, from EPA’s promulgated methods to screening methods, highlighting the strengths, limitations, and key considerations of each.
Whether you’re experienced in PFAS analytical methods or just starting to explore the challenges of PFAS analyses, this guide is a valuable resource for informed decision-making.
Read the full article here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022113925000569
Just published! "PFAS Monitored Retention: A Framework for Managing PFAS-Contaminated Groundwater Sites" is now available in “Groundwater Monitoring & Remediation.” Co-authored by...
Just published! “PFAS Monitored Retention: A Framework for Managing PFAS-Contaminated Groundwater Sites” is now available in “Groundwater Monitoring & Remediation.” Co-authored by GSI’s David T. Adamson, PhD, PE, Charles J. Newell, PhD, PE, and Poonam Kulkarni, PE, alongside collaborator Hans Stroo, the article introduces PFAS Monitored Retention (PMR) as a scientifically sound, cost-conscious approach to managing PFAS at groundwater sites.
The framework builds on the principles of monitored natural attenuation (MNA), expanding the toolbox for site managers by emphasizing retention processes like sorption, matrix diffusion, and precursor retention, particularly when immediate risk to receptors is low.
Read the full open-access article here: https://ngwa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gwmr.70001
Exciting News! The American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES) singularly honors Chuck Newell, Vice President/Principal Engineer with the prestigious 2024...
Exciting News! The American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES) singularly honors Chuck Newell, Vice President/Principal Engineer with the prestigious 2024 Gordon Maskew Fair Award!
The award recognizes Dr. Newell’s extensive work in environmental science, including numerous publications, patents, and contributions to the field as exemplary of the goal to “protect and enhance environmental quality.” Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition!
The Gordon Maskew Fair Award honors one of the pioneers of environmental engineering, Dean Fair. In addition to his exemplary career, his living legacy includes hundreds of prominent practicing engineers and eminent professors who continue to emulate his values. He taught his students not only the technical aspects of the field but also inspired them to use their skills to protect and enhance environmental quality.
Through the Fair Award, the Academy seeks to identify Board Certified Environmental Engineers, Members, or Scientists who have contributed to the status of the environmental engineering or science professions by:
Dr. Charles Newell holds the position of Vice President at GSI Environmental Inc. and is based in Houston, Texas. He is recognized as a Board Certified Environmental Engineer (BCEE) by the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists, a Certified Ground Water Professional by the National Ground Water Association (NGWA) and serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rice University. His academic and professional contributions are extensive, including co-authorship of four U.S. EPA publications, 12 environmental software systems, over 70 journal articles, five patents, and two books, notably “Natural Attenuation of Fuels and Chlorinated Solvents”.
Dr. Newell’s areas of expertise encompass site characterization, groundwater modeling, risk assessment, natural attenuation, LNAPL/DNAPL, remediation technologies, long-term monitoring strategies, technology transfer, and management of PFAS-impacted sites. He has served as a Principal or Co-Principal Investigator in numerous environmental R&D projects sponsored by various agencies and organizations, including the U.S. Department of Energy, American Petroleum Institute, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Defense, and diverse industrial clients.
Dr. Newell is the recipient of the Hanson Excellence of Presentation Award from AAPG, the Outstanding Presentation Award from AIChE, and the 2001 Wesley W. Horner Award from ASCE. Additionally, he received the 2008 Outstanding Alumni Award from Rice University, the 2014 Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) Project of the Year Award, the 2016 Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council (ITRC) Environmental Excellence Award, and the 2020 Foundation Achievement Award from the Association for Environmental Health and Science.
Contact Chuck directly at Charles J. Newell, PhD, PE, BCEE