15 Environmental Geochemistry and Health Impacts

This session welcomes research on contaminant occurrence, fate and transport, and impacts on human and environmental health. Interdisciplinary contributions with implications for environmental remediation and natural resources management are encouraged.

Monday, 18 May 2026
1:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Alvarado G

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Urban Runoff from Albuquerque Contributing to the Rio Grande, New Mexico

Paper number: 15-2
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 1:55 PM – 2:15 PM

Authors

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become widespread in the environment, and recent studies indicate urban runoff may be a source. More information including direct sampling of urban runoff and temporal variability within an arid urban environment is needed to assess this potential PFAS source. Short-term, high-intensity precipitation events flush through the arid urban environment of Albuquerque during the monsoon season and contribute water to the Rio Grande in short duration pulses. PFAS concentrations in water of the Rio Grande have been observed to increase by an order of magnitude as it flows through the Albuquerque urban area with more variability in concentration and distribution of PFAS during monsoon season. Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Sampler (POCIS) passive samplers were deployed for a month during both baseflow (February-March) and monsoon seasons (July-August). The passive samplers were deployed at four locations: one sampler upstream of intense urban development, two samplers spaced evenly through the urban development, and a final sampler located downstream of most of the urban development and the wastewater treatment plant effluent outfall. Discrete water samples were also collected from the Rio Grande during the retrieval of the POCIS samplers and provide a comparison of single versus integrated samples. The integrated POCIS results from monsoon season contain higher concentrations of PFAS than baseflow and may suggest that short-term, high-intensity precipitation events flush through the urban environment mobilizing PFAS compounds into the Rio Grande. Additionally, urban runoff from four storm drain outfall locations in Albuquerque were sampled following high-intensity precipitation events with magnitudes greater than 0.25 inches, and all had PFAS present in the water samples. The results provide valuable information on the contribution of PFAS to the Rio Grande as it flows through Albuquerque in an arid urban environment.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 4

doi: 10.1130/abs/2026RM-410606

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