PFAS

Recently during our SAPA meeting in Oregon, the subject of PFAS came under discussion with representatives from NAPA, and this could be a future concern for our industry. PFAS – Per -Polyfluoroalkyl Substances – commonly defined as a group of man-made chemicals that are resistant to water, grease, and heat.  The truth is they are very common from nonstick cookware, paints, water resistant clothing, to firefighting foam. Due to chemistry, the carbon fluorine bond is one of the strongest and these chemicals do not degrade easily in the environment and are often referred to as “forever chemicals”.  The really bad thing about firefighting foam is it’s still used even with the knowledge of it being potentially harmful. This foam is highly effective in extinguishing fires involving airplanes. Recently some airports have begun to use alternate products, however the threat is still there if there were any record of the PFAs foam was potentially used in the past.

As an asphalt contractor, we are often asked to perform repairs and resurface runways and taxiways at local to international airports within our state of SC. This has been discussed that when the asphalt is milled or even when concrete pavement is removed or rubblized, it still could contain a dose of PFAS. The important fact is if it has any chance of having PFAS then NAPA is recommending that the owner should retain the old pavement. They are recommending that removing the material from the airport and taking it back to your plant should be only done if the airport can sign off and verify that the old pavement does not contain any PFAS. Taking the risk of storing or transporting these recycled materials offsite is not a good idea unless it’s been verified to not contain PFAS. In this day, having a pavement that contains PFAS could be bad for business due to the potential for future environmental justice claims and holding you responsible for cleanup.  If you are interested in more information and are a member of NAPA, explore your options carefully by visiting their website and logging in to receive the most up to date information regarding this important issue.