SERDP FY 2026 New Start Projects

Environmental Restoration (ER) Program Area

The objective of this Statement of Need (SON) was to seek an improved understanding of the ecological toxicity of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at sites impacted by aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), particularly those PFAS that are less characterized due to historical limitations in analytical methods. Specifically, the goal was to address the following research needs:

• Broaden the understanding of which PFAS in the environment contribute to ecological toxicity in terms of their potential persistence and bioaccumulation. 
• Develop new methodologies to assess the biological effects of PFAS at different levels of biological organization and under different exposure scenarios.

The selection of projects that will be funded to address this SON will be complete in Fall 2025. 

Research should provide additional, more accurate data to support site conceptual models at PFAS-impacted sites. Such information will ultimately lead to improved management of PFAS in the environment.