PFAS (perfluoroalkyl) Compounds Found In Deadman’s Brook
Download the Full Report Here.
Funded by Westport’s Shellfish Commission May 24, 2024
Primary Investigators Richard Harris and Peter Fraboni
Assisted by Alexander Berkley and Grabriela de Brito
)Analysis of PFAS Compounds in Deadman’s Brook, Westport, CT on 5/24/24
by East Norwalk Blue (ENB), a 501 c 3 Nonprofit Dedicated to a Cleaner Long
Island Sound.
Abstract: A study of nine pre-determined testing sites, (established by Harbor Watch (HW) at
Earthplace), in Deadman’s Man Brook (DMB), Westport, CT was conducted by ENB on 5/24/24 to
determine if and to what extent PFAS (per and polyfluoroalkyl) compounds had infiltrated the
waterway. ENB and the Westport Shellfish Commission chose DMB because it is a slow-moving,
low-volume tributary which flows through a highly developed suburban landscape before
discharging to the Saugatuck Estuary (Figure 1) where water from DMB could ultimately be a
possible source of PFAS pollution to the marine environment. Up to seven PFAS compounds were
extracted from Cyclopure test filters (Appendix 1) at each of the nine sampling stations (Table 1).
Two of these compounds PFOS (perfluoro octane sulfonate) and PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid)
create up to half the weight (49%) of the PFAS products observed at nine stations in DMB (Table 1).
This may be of concern because the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule
(4/19/24) making both products hazardous materials under the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) claiming there is no safe level for PFOS or
PFOA and that both compounds can remain in the human body from 3 to 5 years (EPA 2023a, Table
2). Although DMB is a small brook and PFAS loading in parts per trillion (ppt) is extremely small, the
brook is like other small feeder streams weaving through the highly developed areas of Westport
and Fairfield County (Figure 2) which raises concern about a possible multiplier effect of PFAS
compounds entering the marine environment. Toxic PFOS and PFAS and other “forever” PFAS
compounds infiltrating DMB waters will enter marine waters and the food chain at some point
raising the ultimate threat of consumption by humans (Hedspeth et al, 2023).