PFAS Research

I spent a semester working in the Deliz Lab at the University of Florida’s College of Environmental Engineering and Sustainability, where I contributed to a project focused on the comparative toxicity of short- vs. long-chained PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). I dedicated approximately 10 hours per week to conducting an extensive literature review on the toxicological effects and environmental mobility of PFAS, with a focus on their presence in Brevard County’s Indian River Lagoon—an area impacted by nearby military and industrial sites, including the Patrick Space Force Base.

My work centered on compiling and analyzing physiochemical and toxicity data for 15 priority PFAS compounds detected in surface water samples. I reviewed over 30 peer-reviewed studies and regulatory reports, helping to identify research gaps related to chronic exposure, aquatic toxicity, and health advisory thresholds. Our findings were presented at the University of Florida Undergraduate Research Symposium, highlighting concerns around PFAS accumulation in brackish water systems and the lack of consistent data on long-term health risks.