PFAS pollution

PFAS (Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) are man-made substances with specific characteristics such as water repellency, resistance to heat, oil and fats, chemical stability, and electrical insulation. These characteristics mean that PFAS are used in a huge variety of products both in industrial settings and in the home, for everything from foam fire extinguishers to medicines, non-stick pans to reactor vessels, and raincoats to electronic components.

PFAS are potentially toxic and they barely get broken down in the environment, if at all. This means they accumulate in the environment and in living organisms, which can lead to health problems in humans and animals. PFAS compounds vary, partly in the extent to which they attach to other substances: some PFAS are more water-soluble, others more fat-soluble. These kinds of properties determine how the substance spreads through the environment, where it accumulates, and how it moves through the food chain. Wageningen researchers are studying the extent to which PFAS is present in water and water bottoms, can be taken up and passed on in benthic animals and fish, and the extent to which it accumulates in birds, mammals or humans. The current and previous studies in the Westerschelde are an example of this.

The European Commission currently works on the regulation of PFAS, which have been designated as substances of very high concern (SVHC). Alongside these regulatory changes, there’s also growing public pressure to come up with alternatives. Producers of PFAS or of products that contain PFAS will need to find safe alternatives. But right now, few alternatives are available. Part of the issue is that there are thousands of different types of PFAS, with a variety of different chemical characteristics and degrees of toxicity.
Besides PFAS detection and monitoring, Wageningen University & Research (WUR) conducts research into safe alternatives and sustainable ways to clean up current PFAS pollution. In doing so, we have identified three focus areas:

Detecting and monitoring PFAS

PFAS have been on the market for more than 50 years and they find their way into the environment through industrial emissions, waste processing and the use of products that contain the substances. We know that they can be spread through the air, soil and surface water.

Reducing PFAS pollution

PFAS contain very strong carbon-fluorine bonds, and it’s these that account for their strong performance as materials, but also prevent them from being easily broken down. This is what makes it difficult to clear up PFAS pollution.

Sustainable and safe alternatives to PFAS

The development of alternatives to PFAS isn’t straightforward because there are so many types of PFAS, each with their own unique functionality and a combination of characteristics not found in nature. People have also become accustomed to the functionalities offered by products containing PFAS, so they expect any alternatives to perform in a similar way, whether it’s a household or industrial product.