CP-RUM and the Río Piedras Campus lead a laboratory to investigate PFAS in Puerto Rico's water resources.

The Mayagüez Campus (RUM) and the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico (UPR), in collaboration with the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA), established the Puerto Rico PFAS Research and Monitoring Laboratory. This is a scientific initiative dedicated to studying the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), synthetic chemical compounds used in various industrial applications and specialized products that, in some cases, can remain in the environment for long periods and be transported through water bodies. The effort will generate local data on their distribution in the island's rivers, reservoirs, tributaries, and sediments.

The project is led by Dr. Gustavo A. Martínez Rodríguez, a researcher at the Agricultural Experiment Station (EEA) in Río Piedras, attached to the College of Agricultural Sciences of RUM, along with Dr. Liz M. Díaz Vázquez, a professor in the Department of Chemistry at the Río Piedras Campus. It also has the collaboration of Dr. Luis C. Bermúdez Morales and Mildred Rivera Isaac, a senior analyst at the Materials Characterization Center, who contribute specialized experience in instrumental analysis, chemical characterization, and quality assurance.

 

“The value of this collaboration is that it combines knowledge of freshwater aquatic ecosystems, environmental sampling, and high-sensitivity analytical chemistry. The results of the first phase demonstrate that local monitoring is essential to document the presence and implications of these contaminants under the particular conditions of Puerto Rico,” stated Martínez Rodríguez, also a professor in the Department of Agroenvironmental Sciences at CCA.

He added that the initiative combines strengths from both UPR campuses and the DRNA to address one of the areas of growing interest in environmental research.

 

On one hand, RUM leads the environmental and field component, which includes sampling design, selection of reservoirs and tributaries, sample collection, and evaluation of water quality parameters.

 

Meanwhile, the Río Piedras Campus leads the advanced analytical chemistry component for the extraction, detection, and quantification of PFAS, using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry.

 

On the other hand, the DRNA financially supports the effort and provides the environmental regulatory framework so that the results contribute to the protection of Puerto Rico's natural resources.

“Puerto Rico needs its own data, obtained with reliable methods, to understand where these compounds appear, in what concentrations, how they are transported, and what monitoring or remediation strategies may be necessary,” said Díaz Vázquez.

 

During the first phase of the research, the team is evaluating the Carraízo, La Plata, Cerrillos, and Guajataca reservoirs, one of their main tributaries, and four rivers representative of conditions with less human impact, with the purpose of establishing a local baseline. At the time of the first report, three of the five sampling events planned for this year had been completed.

“The study analyzes eight PFAS compounds under the strictest quality controls in the sampling, processing, and analysis of samples. In addition, a series of parameters linked to the impact of the human footprint are analyzed to better understand the conditions that regulate the presence of these emerging contaminants,” stated Martínez Rodríguez.

 

He added that the preliminary results support the initial hypothesis that establishes a greater presence and diversity of these compounds in watersheds or catchment areas with greater influence from the human footprint.

“Currently, a greater diversity and frequency of PFAS detection has been observed in the Carraízo and La Plata reservoirs and their respective tributaries, while no detectable concentrations of these compounds have been registered in Cerrillos and Guajataca,” he affirmed.

 

According to the researchers, these patterns suggest that factors such as urban development, human activities, and infrastructure are decisive in the presence and transport of these compounds into water bodies.

In Carraízo, the compounds perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) have been detected. La Plata, for its part, has shown a more diverse PFAS profile, with detections of the aforementioned compounds (PFOA, PFOS, and PFBS), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA), also known as GenX, and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA).

“In all cases, the detected concentrations have been below regulatory limits. However, their presence in these ecosystems warrants continuous monitoring to ensure compliance with regulations under different conditions,” he stated.

 

The initiative also has an important educational component. The project directly impacts graduate students from the Graduate Program in Chemistry at the Río Piedras Campus. Among them are Raisa De Jesús, who works on PFAS monitoring and sustainable remediation strategies; Aolanys Castellano, focused on the development of portable sensors for detecting these compounds; and Vanessa Álvarez, who investigates the presence of PFAS in sediments and the historical reconstruction of environmental contamination.

 

For her part, Dr. Zayira Jordán Conde, president of the University of Puerto Rico, highlighted the university system's capacity to lead strategically relevant research for the country.

 

"The creation of this Laboratory demonstrates how the University of Puerto Rico integrates the talent, scientific infrastructure, and experience of its campuses to address matters of great importance for Puerto Rico. This initiative strengthens our service mission, promotes the training of new researchers, and reaffirms the institutional commitment to generating knowledge that supports environmental sustainability and the health of our communities," stated Jordán Conde.

 

Likewise, Dr. Miguel A. Muñoz, interim rector of RUM, highlighted the scope of the initiative and its impact on the country.

 

"This Laboratory represents the transformative potential of collaborative research among our campuses to address pressing challenges that directly impact the quality of life of our people. At RUM, we are proud to contribute our expertise in agricultural sciences, natural resources, and environmental monitoring to generate knowledge that contributes to the protection of Puerto Rico's water resources and to evidence-based decision-making," stated Muñoz.