Toxic Contaminants Workgroup Projects and Resources
TCW PFAS Quarterly Meetings and Resources
The TCW holds quarterly meetings dedicated to the subject of Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS). A consolidation of materials and resources will be posted here concerning each of the meeting topics:
Meetings
2023 Meetings
- February 8, 2023 - Working towards common analytical and field methods and approaches.
- May 10, 2023 - Development of fish consumption advisories and aquatic species criteria.
- August 9, 2023 - Improving our Understanding of Land-Applied Biosolids
- November 8, 2023 - Tools and Monitoring to Inform PFAS Source Assessment
2024 Meetings
- April 10, 2024 - Ecological Effects of PFAS Across Trophic Levels
- June 12, 2024 - PFAS Analytical Method Updates and Data Considerations
- October 9, 2024 - Monitoring of PFAS in Fish and Development of Consumption Advisories
2024 Meetings
- January 2024 - Topic TBD
Relevant Resources
STAC State of the Science Workshop (May 2022) - Improving Understanding and Coordination of Science Activities for PFAS in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Report
PFAS Outreach from Extension Programs
State of the Science on PFAS in the Ag Systems (presentation to the Farming for Success workshop, 2024)
What We Need to Know About PFAS – the Forever Chemicals - YouTube (University of Maryland Extension)
Chesapeake Quarterly : Volume 23, Number 1 : Complicated Contaminants: Finding PFAS in the Chesapeake Bay (Maryland Sea Grant)
Understanding PFAS - What They Are, Their Impact, and What We Can Do (Penn State Extension)
PFAS Drinking Water Standards, Testing, and Treatment in Pennsylvania (Penn State Extension)
Guide to Addressing PFAS in Drinking Water (Penn State Extension)
Webinar on testing contaminants in private wells (PA); link
Virginia Tech private well study
Understanding PFAS in Delaware Flyer (University of Delaware Extension, Delaware Sea Grant, DNREC)
Upcoming Events
Webinar on PFAS Monitoring in Private Water Wells September 25, 2024 at noon, Register here: Per/Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Monitoring in Private Water Wells (psu.edu) (Penn State Extension)
Toxic Contaminant Targeting Tools
A collection of geospatial layers associated with Chesapeake Bay toxic contaminant issues.
Layers include:
- Fish Consumption Impairments
- PCB Impairments
- Mercury Impairments
- Toxic Release Inventory (EPA)
Go to Mercury in Freshwater Fish of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Story Map
Go to Endocrine Disrupting Compounds in the Chesapeake Story Map
Go to Toxic Impairments in the Tidal Chesapeake Bay Indicator (ChesapeakeProgress)
Enhanced Monitoring of Toxic Contaminants: Responding to the PSC Request
STAC Workshop on Contaminants in Urban and Agricultural Settings
A wide range of contaminants of agricultural, human, and industrial origin have degraded water quality, and pose a threat to the health of fish and wildlife populations in the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. A STAC workshop brought together researchers and water quality managers working in urban and agricultural settings to synthesize the current knowledge on contaminants of concern, and discuss opportunities for their reduction.
Fish Consumption Advisory Project
Joint project with the Chesapeake Bay Program Diversity Workgroup to develop effective communication tools for populations at high risk for PCB exposure through fish consumption in waters impaired by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). These populations include children and those who are pregnant or may become pregnant in communities with high rates of subsistence fishing, and especially linguistically isolated populations or populations who do not have regular access to the publication avenues commonly used by state governments and municipalities.
Spanish video available here.
Project Infographics
The Chesapeake Bay Program developed the Fish Consumption Advisory (FCA) infographic and an accompanying user guide (below) in order to better communicate the dangers of toxic contaminants in locally caught fish and the subsequent risks to human health. The FCA infographic is intended to raise awareness about the risks of consuming contaminated fish by highlighting safe angling and cooking practices in a simple, easy-to-understand and relevant fashion. The infographic features four panels that collectively promote the safe catching, sharing, preparing and consumption of fish.
- Literature review summary final 11 22 16 pdf [PDF, 955.9 KB]
- Fca user guide december 2020 [PDF, 1.2 MB]
- Fish adv infographic english header [PDF, 225.2 KB]
- Fish adv infographic english panel 4 [PDF, 789.2 KB]
- Fish adv infographic english panel 3 [PDF, 2.1 MB]
- Fish adv infographic english panel 2 [PDF, 8.1 MB]
- Fish adv infographic english panel 1 [PDF, 1.3 MB]
- Fish adv infographic english print v2 [PDF, 11.8 MB]
- Fish adv infographic spn informal footer [PDF, 537.6 KB]
- Fish adv infographic spn informal panel4 [PDF, 799.9 KB]
- Fish adv infographic spn informal panel3 [PDF, 2.2 MB]
- Fish adv infographic spn informal panel2 [PDF, 8.1 MB]
- Fish adv infographic spn informal panel1 [PDF, 1.3 MB]
- Fish adv infographic spn informal web [PDF, 10.6 MB]
- Fca public comment [PDF, 375.6 KB]
- Developing a social marketing plan [PDF, 163.4 KB]
- Spicy fish recipe english 2 [PDF, 1.9 MB]
- Spicy fish recipe spanish [PDF, 2.0 MB]
- Fish adv infographic spn informal header [PDF, 348.3 KB]
- Fish adv infographic english footer [PDF, 473.9 KB]
Toxic Contaminants Workgroup Management Strategies and Work Plans
Since the signing of the Watershed Agreement in June 2014, our Goal Implementation Teams have been crafting "management strategies" that describe the steps necessary to achieve the Agreement's Vision.
These management strategies offer insight into the Bay Program partners' proposals for reaching each outcome by 2025, as well as how we monitor, assess and report progress towards abundant life, clean waters, engaged communities, conserved lands and climate change resilience. The strategies provide broad, overarching direction and are further supported by two-year work plans summarizing the specific commitments, short-term actions and resources required for success.
The Toxic Contaminants Workgroup oversees progress towards acheiving the Toxic Contaminants Research Outcome, and the Toxic Contaminants Policy and Prevention Outcome.