North Carolina is confronting complex water-quality challenges as regulators consider binding limits on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and scientists broaden their focus to include microplastics, which increasingly are found alongside PFAS in water and food. As the state’s Environmental Management Commission weighs new rules to reduce these persistent contaminants, researchers are advancing practical treatment solutions for existing systems. Among them is Frank Leibfarth, a 2025 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists National laureate whose work on advanced polymer materials and pilot-scale removal technologies aims to capture and destroy PFAS while informing sustainable plastic design—exemplifying the kind of innovation needed to protect public health and water resources in North Carolina. Read the article here.
PFAS, Microplastics and What Comes Next for North Carolina’s Water
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