Introduction to Groundwater Contamination by PFAS at Airports and Military Bases

This short video describes the composition, use, and effects of PFAS-containing firefighting foam known as Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF). It includes pictures and animations that illustrate the evolution of a groundwater plume from a fire training area, the impact of the plume on groundwater and municipal water supply, and various other PFAS plumes that are often present at airport and military bases. This video is part of the GroundwaterU.org Public Video Library, which houses educational videos pertaining to all things related to groundwater, from science and engineering to policy and governance. Visit the site and add your own video or another video you think is of high educational value and quality. https://groundwateru.org Credits: Photos in order of appearance (from left to right and start to finish) 1. Naval Forces Japan firefighter douses a fire on a dummy aircraft during the annual off-station mishap drill at Naval Support Facility Kamiseya. July 30, 2008. Photo by Seaman Barry Riley. CC by 2.0 2. See 1 above. 3. Right side rear view of an Italian Forces Helicopter, Augsta-Sikorsky AS-61, on the runway at Mogadishu Airport after an emergency landing. Three US Air Force Firemen, in flame retardant clothing, spay a layer of fire retardant foam underneath the aircraft. The AS-61's nose section sits on the runway because its nose gear was torn off upon landing. December 19, 2006. CC by 2.0 4. Boeing 777 resting on taxiway after emergency vehicles sprayed foam over its left wing, where flames were detected during taxiing at airport. 5. See 1 above. 6. Fire training at Dover Airforce Base, Delaware, USA. Photo by Roland Balik, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Photo used to illustrate fire training area. Photo shows water spray. 7. See 4 above. 8. Accidental discharge of the hangar fire suppression system, Long Beach Daugherty Airport, California, United States. December 15, 2008. Photo by John Murphy. CC BY-SA 2.0. 9. See 6 above. Content, illustrations, and animation by Andrew J.B. Cohen, 2022.