Written By: Michael Dickey, P.E., Director of Presto Geosystems Like many other industries, geosynthetics manufacturers are navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of new per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) regulations. However, in the case of geosynthetic products, an interesting and seemingly paradoxical question emerges: Is it possible that the same products that have been designed to solve complex environmental problems, and even contain pollutants, could also be a possible contributing source of PFAS? In this article, we explore this question and discuss the historic role of polymer processing aids (PPAs) in the production of geosynthetics. What Does Intentionally vs Unintentionally Added PFAS Mean? Since the discovery of PFAS in the 1930s, these compounds have been widely used in manufacturing operations worldwide—both intentionally and unintentionally. In a recent article published by the American Bar Association, the concept of intentional versus unintentional use of PFAS is discussed, and in the case of the latter, the use of fluorinated PPAS used in thermoplastics processing is highlighted as a well-known unintentional PFAS source. How this concept relates to traditional geosynthetics manufacturing is discussed further below. Eliminating Polymer Processing Aids (PPAs) from Geosynthetics Production of geosynthetic products such as geogrids, geomembranes, and geocells commonly involves sheet… Read more »