Abstract 1912 Analysis of PFAS in duckweed using MALDI-MSI

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are a group of chemical compounds commonly used in products to confer non-stick and water-resistant properties, such as in non-stick cookware. These chemicals can easily build up in the environment and are currently polluting many bodies of water. They are also toxic and have been linked to thyroid disease, cancer, and reproductive harm. Duckweed is one model organism being used to study how PFAS can be removed from the environment. It is known that duckweed can uptake PFAS, but the mechanism and amount of PFAS they can uptake is unknown.