A One Health Assessment of PFAS Soil Pollution: Distribution, Trophic Transfer, and Remediation Strategy Evaluation

This study aims to investigate the environmental distribution, trophic transfer, and public health risk associated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in soil and biota near a legacy Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) site, in the context of PFAS persistence, bioaccumulation, and the disproportionate burden faced by vulnerable ecosystems and communities. PFAS contamination represents a growing One Health concern, affecting soil organisms, plants, and humans through shared exposure pathways. Utilizing a field-based, multi-compartmental assessment, data were collected from twenty stratified sampling points, including surface and subsurface soils, earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris), and wild lettuce (Lactuca serriola). PFAS concentrations were quantified using liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC–HR-MS), and bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) were calculated by compound. The U.S. EPA’s Benchmark Dose Software (BMDS) was used to derive toxicity thresholds (BMDL₁₀) for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Monte Carlo simulations were used to estimate probabilistic human hazard quotients (HQs). Two remediation approaches—granular activated carbon (GAC) and Brassica juncea phytoremediation—were evaluated for effectiveness and feasibility. The analysis revealed long-chain PFAS BAFs between 0.12 and 0.18, with 17% of simulated adult exposures exceeding HQ = 1. While GAC removed up to 98% of long-chain PFAS, it generated hazardous spent media. Phytoremediation removed only 25–35% and posed biomass disposal challenges. These findings underscore the need for adaptive, risk-informed remediation planning. The study contributes to One Health by linking contamination surveillance with health-protective decision frameworks that support environmental justice, community resilience, and the co-protection of ecosystems, food systems, and human health.