PFAS cleanup advances with new destruction technology and Great Lakes contamination study

Two Washington‑state companies have unveiled systems that destroy more than 99.99% of PFAS, the so‑called “forever chemicals.” Aquagga of Tacoma uses hydrothermal alkaline treatment to break down PFAS in concentrated wastewater, while Sedron Technologies of Sedro‑Woolley dries biosolids and burns them at over 900 °C, destroying PFAS and generating electricity. Both firms have already processed waste from sites such as Fairbanks International Airport in Alaska and a Department of Defense location in North Carolina, and Sedron is constructing a regional plant in South Florida to serve about two million residents.

Separately, a University of Notre Dame meta‑analysis of 42 years of Great Lakes data—including nearly 2,500 samples of algae, fish, birds and other organisms—shows how PFAS move up the food chain and accumulate in top predators. The study found a sharp decline in PFOS levels in the lower lakes (Ontario and Erie) after a voluntary industry phase‑out, but little change in the upper lakes (Superior, Michigan, Huron) where water residence times are much longer. These findings highlight the persistent health risks of PFAS, from reduced fertility to increased cancer risk, and aim to improve risk communication about contaminated fish and wildlife.