National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

PUBLISH DATE: OCTOBER 2023 | VERSION 1.0

S

POTLIGHT

On a Mission to Assess and Address Per- and 

Polyfluoroalkyl Substances at NASA Sites 

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is an umbrella term for thousands 

of synthetic fluorinated chemicals that have been widely used for their chemical 

stability and because they repel water, stains, and oil. Products such as non-stick 

cookware, outdoor clothing, fabrics, carpets, and paper packaging for food may 

contain PFAS. Firefighters and the military use aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) 

that contain PFAS to put out fires that occur at airfields and on naval vessels. 

The characteristics that make PFAS effective for so many uses also prevent them 

from breaking down in the environment. As a result, the substances may remain 

in air, soil, surface water, and groundwater. 

Investigators collect and evaluate data on the presence of per- and 

polyfluoroalkyl substances at Kennedy Space Center. 

Contact

For more information, contact Michael Deliz at michael.j.deliz@nasa.gov. 

What Are Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances? 

Knowledge about the health effects of PFAS exposure is evolving but scientific studies have shown that exposure to some 

PFAS may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals. NASA is committed to understanding and addressing 

PFAS at its centers and facilities and to protecting human health and the environment in all its activities. 

In 2018, NASA began preliminary assessments for PFAS at all its centers, component facilities, and work areas. These 

assessments identify areas of potential concern where PFAS releases may have occurred. Potential PFAS sources 

investigated by NASA included AFFF release areas, electroplating facilities, wastewater treatment plants, biosolids disposal 

areas, landfills, and areas where PFAS containing products were utilized or stored. 

NASA began site inspections in 2019 and has completed them at all centers, component facilities, and work areas. These 

inspections confirmed whether PFAS were released into the environment, whether specific PFAS are present, and their 

concentrations. 

The results of the site inspections determined whether remedial investigations or immediate response action was needed to 

protect human health and the environment. For example, drinking water wells for the Town of Chincoteague, located on the 

Goddard Space Flight Center’s Wallops Flight Facility, were impacted with PFAS. Following this discovery, a PFAS treatment 

sytem was constructed and has been operating since 2021.

Remedial investigations have been initiated at Kennedy Space Center and Wallops Flight Facility, and others are planned 

for 2024. These investigations fully delineate PFAS impacts to soil, groundwater, surface water, and sediment. They also 

determine ecological and human health risks, what areas need to be remediated, and how areas will be cleaned up.

What is NASA Doing About PFAS at its Facilities? 

To date, there are no federal or state drinking water, groundwater or surface water regulatory standards 

for PFAS. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced its PFAS Strategic Roadmap in 2021 and 

proposed in 2023 to establish drinking water standards for PFAS and other substances. Since 2018, NASA 

has taken steps to proactively assess and address the presence of PFAS across its sites. 

The Latest on Federal Regulation of PFAS