Clean Lakes 101: Surface Water PFAS in the Yahara Lakes
Join us for this in-person or virtual hybrid edition of Clean Lakes 101 from 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 14th. Register as an in-person attendee or to receive a Zoom link through your confirmation email and watch virtually.
REGISTER: https://www.cleanlakesalliance.org/event/clean-lakes-101-aug-2024/
ABOUT THIS TALK
Have you been wondering what PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) are, the so-called “forever chemical?” In this talk, Patrick will explain what PFAS are and what you need to know about them in the environment, especially surface water. He’ll discuss the range of state-wide results that they’ve collected and put them into context of what they’ve noticed at various sites. He’ll highlight Greater Madison lake results to explain basic trends between PFAS in water and fish. He’ll also share recent research he’s been doing on PFAS in Lake Monona to study the distribution, fate, and potential bioaccumulation in various aquatic organisms like small fish, algae, zooplankton, mussels, macroinvertebrates and macrophytes. His goal of this talk is to explain PFAS in understandable terms, so you have a working knowledge to better understand this emerging contaminant and its behavior in the aquatic environment that potentially has human health consequences.
ABOUT OUR SPEAKER
Patrick Gorski is an Emerging Contaminants Research Scientist at the WI Dept. of Natural Resources in the Bureau of Water Quality, Monitoring Section, where he started in April of 2020. His current focus of research is PFAS (Per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances) in surface water, fish tissue, and fate and transport issues. He also helps coordinate state-wide monitoring for PFAS in surface water as well as provide technical assistance to various DNR programs on PFAS-related issues and other contaminants. For the previous 13 years, he was an Assistant Scientist and Supervisor at the WI State Laboratory of Hygiene. He received his PhD from UW-Madison studying mercury bioavailability and bioaccumulation in freshwater systems and previously obtained an MS from the UW-Madison Zoology Department. Patrick also worked for two years as an analytical chemist in a contract pharmaceutical lab.
EVENT DETAILS
This event will be held at The Edgewater hotel – grand ballroom level 5 (1001 Wisconsin Pl, Madison, WI 53703). Doors open at 7:30 a.m. The program runs from 8 – 9 a.m. A Q/A session will follow the presentation as time allows. Parking will be available at The Edgewater parking ramp. Parking spots fill up quickly and may be limited depending on hotel capacity. Street parking is also available nearby.
A Zoom link will be sent to all registrants via the confirmation email.
CLEAN LAKES 101 LECTURE SERIES
Clean Lakes 101 is a series of educational events open to the public and a great chance to learn more about the science behind the issues that affect our lakes. Each month we feature a different expert to make the science accessible and interesting to non-technical audiences. The series is produced in partnership with the UW-Madison Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and UW-Extension Lakes, with presenting sponsor National Guardian Life Insurance Company, hosting sponsor The Edgewater, supporting sponsor Johnson Financial Group, and media sponsor WKOW. Additional support is provided by Alliant Energy Foundation, Hovde Properties, and Perkins Coie LLP.
