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A Cornell-led student project has produced the first broad public map of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) across New York’s Finger Lakes region. The interactive map gives residents a way to see where samples were collected and how concentrations vary, while showing generally low levels across the region and localized hotspots near some airports and fire-training sites.
What the FLX PFAS Project measured
The FLX PFAS Project is based in Cornell civil and environmental engineering professor Damian Helbling’s research group. The current project account reports more than 500 water samples from 300 bodies of water, including all 11 Finger Lakes. Each sample was screened for 24 commonly measured PFAS compounds, and the results were published in an interactive public map.
The project began in 2023. A 2025 report from the New York State Water Resources Institute documented an earlier milestone of more than 400 samples collected at more than 300 sites. In 2024, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and NYSWRI announced a $33,700 Cornell grant to collect up to 200 additional samples and integrate PFAS data into a public web platform. The later sample count reflects the project’s continuing expansion rather than a contradiction between the two reports.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesPFAS are a large family of chemicals valued for resisting heat, oil, stains, grease and water. New York’s environmental agency lists uses that include water-repellent clothing, furniture, adhesives, paints and varnishes, food packaging, non-stick cooking surfaces, electrical-wire insulation, firefighting foam and cleaning products.
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What the map found
Most measurements were relatively low
The Cornell account describes overall PFAS concentrations in the Finger Lakes region as relatively low. That regional result matters because the sampling covers every Finger Lake and hundreds of other water bodies rather than a single suspected site.
Hotspots cluster around specific activities
Samples with concentrations above New York safety guidance were concentrated in standing water near airports and fire-training stations. Aircraft de-icing fluids and firefighting foams are plausible sources in those settings. The formal report also found chemical mixtures among the 24 routinely measured PFAS that can help connect contamination patterns with particular uses or sources.
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- TESTS FOR: 18 PFAS compounds including PFOS (Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid), PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid), Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid, Perfluoroheptanoic acid, Perfluorononanoic acid, Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid, Perfluoroundecanoic acid, Perfluorododecanoic acid, Perfluorodecanoic acid, Perfluorohexanoic acid, NEtFOSAA, NMeFOSAA, Perfluorotetradecanoic acid, Perfluorotridecanoic acid, GenX, 11-Chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid, 9-Chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanonane-1-sulfonic acid, and 4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid
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Contamination usually stays close to its source
The 2025 report says dilution and limited hydraulic connectivity restrict transport in surface water. Hotspot influence “rarely extends beyond 1 km from the primary source.” Many of the identified hotspots are isolated and are not drinking-water sources, so a detection near an airport or training area does not automatically mean a nearby lake is unsafe to drink from.
Some spikes appear temporary
Sampling over time produced signatures probably associated with fire-training exercises. At one site, a very high concentration dissipated over a period of months. That pattern indicates why a single result should be interpreted alongside sampling date, repeat measurements and the waterway’s connection to downstream lakes or intakes.
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How to interpret a hotspot near a Finger Lake
Location alone cannot determine exposure. Use these questions when examining a point on the map:
- What was measured? Check the concentration and the mix of PFAS analytes, not just the presence of a marker.
- How far is the point from a suspected source? The report’s approximately 1-kilometre finding describes typical surface-water influence, not a universal safety radius.
- Is the water hydraulically connected? A pond or drainage feature isolated from a lake may not transport the same contamination into the lake.
- Is it a drinking-water source? Recreational or isolated standing water has a different exposure pathway from a public-water intake or a private well.
- When was it sampled? A result collected during or soon after a fire-training exercise may differ from a later measurement.
The map is a regional baseline, not a permanent guarantee that concentrations cannot change. Helbling said, “We’re getting a snapshot of water quality today that will be useful to compare with data from water samples collected after certain industries arrive.”
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Alex Van Den Hende, who created the project’s map infrastructure, described the broad result this way: “There was definitely relief knowing that generally we’re not seeing elevated levels across the region.”
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What New York’s 10-parts-per-trillion limits mean
New York established enforceable maximum contaminant levels of 10 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and 10 ppt for PFOS in public drinking water in 2020. These limits apply to regulated public-water systems, which must monitor and report detections. Confirmed exceedances require public notification and corrective action under state requirements.
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PFOA and PFOS are only two members of the much larger PFAS family. Therefore, a map result for another PFAS compound should not be presented as if it were automatically a PFOA or PFOS result, and a total concentration should not be compared with a single-compound limit without knowing how the measurement was defined.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What private-well owners should do
New York does not directly regulate PFAS in private wells in the same way it regulates public supplies. If a map point, a nearby suspected source or a change in local land use raises concern about a well, the state’s guidance is to contact the local health department or the New York State Department of Health’s Bureau of Environmental Exposure Investigation.
Ask officials which sampling approach is appropriate for the property and whether a certified PFAS removal filter is suitable for the specific compounds detected. The regional map can provide context about nearby surface water, but it does not test an individual household well or establish that a particular well is contaminated.
Why this map matters beyond the current results
The project creates a consistent reference point for future monitoring. New industrial facilities, airport operations, firefighting exercises or changes in drainage could alter local concentrations. Comparing later samples with the current baseline may reveal whether a hotspot is persistent, seasonal or linked to a new activity.
For residents asking, “Is there PFAS in my Finger Lake?” the most accurate answer is that PFAS were detected at some locations, while the region-wide pattern is generally low and localized. The practical risk question is narrower: which compound was detected, at what concentration, in what kind of water, how close to a source, and whether that water reaches a public supply or private well.
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