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New Jersey Northern Reducing Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Water Contamination with Mycorrhizal Hydroponics Plants and Constructed Wetlands

JSHS · 2025

Neel Ahuja, Mr. Christopher Cook · Millburn High School, Millburn, NJ

Overview

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) "forever chemicals" are common carcinogenic water pollutants, causing 382,000 global deaths annually. Over 600,000 military personnel are annually exposed to unsafe PFAS levels due to aqueous film -forming foam (AF FF), a PFAS -containing substance used by the military. Current methods to purify PFAS-contaminated water cost millions of dollars and require existing infrastructure, making them inaccessible in low -income and rural areas without industrial treatment facil ities. Hydroponics plants colonized by beneficial mycorrhizal fungi present an affordable and sustainable solution to purifying PFAS-contaminated water. In this study, mycorrhizal -inoculated basil and lettuce plants were cultivated in controlled hydroponics systems. Root samples were stained and analyzed under a light microscope to confirm mycorrhizal presence. PFAS was added to the systems and an LC/QQQ -MS instrument was used to measure the reduction in PFAS concentrations over 72 hours. Results showed that mycorrhizal plants removed 71.1% of PFAS compared to 59.9% by non -mycorrhizal plants, and a t -test (p -value=0.00367) proved statistical significance. Further analysis revealed a direct relationship between plant root length and PFAS purificatio n, indicating the suitability of species with naturally longer roots for phytoremediation. After providing this proof -of-concept of mycorrhizal plants reducing PFAS contamination in a controlled environment, a constructed wetland was designed and implement ed at a local pond. Results revealed that mycorrhizal elephant ear plants removed 21.3% of PFAS over 28 days. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of constructed wetlands with mycorrhizal plants as an inexpensive and sustainable PFAS purification system for real-world applications.

Competition history

  • JSHS 2025 Category not listed

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