Environment

New research centre to build knowledge to solve large-scale PFAS pollution

University collaboration in a new PFAS research centre will provide research and knowledge on how authorities can prevent, contain and clean up extensive PFAS pollution.

A new research centre at DTU will coordinate research and knowledge about PFAS, which are found everywhere in consumer products and especially in textiles such as rainwear and sportswear. Photo: Maria Sbytova.

Thursday 09 January 2025

Peter Aagaard Brixen

A new PFAS research centre in collaboration between DTU, University of Copenhagen, University of Southern Denmark and Aarhus University will gather new knowledge about the effects of PFAS (see fact box). Many of the more than 10,000 chemical substances in PFAS are problematic because they do not degrade in nature and can accumulate in humans and animals.

The new PFAS centre will be located at DTU and will conduct research in the areas of environment, food and health. In addition, the centre will provide knowledge to the public, advice authorities and politicians on solutions and strategies to prevent, contain and clean up PFAS pollution.

‘We need more knowledge to ensure that the solutions we propose are long-term and that society makes the right investments. The environment is full of PFAS and the problem is so big that we can't clean up everything. In order to prioritize efforts, we are creating new knowledge in a number of research areas. We also assist the authorities in dealing with acute problems, such as the fact that we currently have 3,000 old landfills in Denmark from which PFAS can leak into the environment,’ says Anders Baun, head of the PFAS Centre and professor at DTU Sustain.

The PFAS Centre is funded with a grant of DKK 45 million from the Ministry of Environment and Gender Equality of Denmark and will support the national PFAS action plan adopted by a majority in the Danish Parliament in 2024. As early as 2025, the PFAS Centre will initiate a number of research projects ranging from

PFAS releases from waste treatment plants.
development of new methods to investigate and prevent PFAS contamination of soil, groundwater and drinking water.
sustainable PFAS-free alternatives in e.g. the green transition.
analytical-chemical development of methods for possible overlooked PFAS.
uptake of PFAS in animals and crops.
occurrence of PFAS in feed and food.

In the field of health, a project will also ensure a comprehensive overview of knowledge and research results on how PFAS affects human health. Research projects initiated in 2025 will be fully funded by the PFAS Centre, after which the ambition is for the PFAS Centre to co-finance research and knowledge about PFAS in Denmark in 2026 and 2027.

In addition to providing research-based knowledge, the PFAS Centre's mission is to contribute to both public information and advice to the authorities. The PFAS Centre will coordinate and gather research efforts and competence building across the four partner universities and further out into the relevant Danish knowledge environments. The coordination also includes the involvement of international researchers and experts.

The PFAS Centre is funded until 2028, and in addition to the national efforts, Denmark, together with four other EU countries, is working towards a comprehensive ban on the use of PFAS throughout the EU.

Facts

PFAS

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a large group of man-made chemicals containing over 10,000 different substances. They are known for their strong bonds between carbon and fluorine, making them very stable and difficult to break down. That's why they are often referred to as ‘forever chemicals’.

PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) is a specific type of PFAS. It is one of the most well-known and used PFAS substances. PFOS was previously used in many products such as fire-fighting foams, water repellents and detergents.

PFAS are problematic because they do not degrade and are highly mobile in the environment and can accumulate in humans and animals. This means that even low levels of exposure can have long-term health consequences, such as the risk of developing cancer, reduced fertility and low birth weight, weakening the body's ability to fight infections, liver damage and increased cholesterol levels.

Facts

The Danish government's action plan against PFAS

Two of the major initiatives in the national PFAS action plan focus on PFAS in soil and drinking water. The parties behind the action plan have allocated a pool to clean up point sources contaminated with PFAS. The Danish regions estimate that up to 15,000 sites may be contaminated with PFAS due to past or current polluting activity on the sites. The action plan also sets aside a subsidy pool that water suppliers can use to protect citizens' drinking water from PFAS.

In addition to this - and the establishment of the PFAS centre - the initiatives in the action plan also focus on

ban PFAS in clothing, shoes and impregnating agents for consumers in Denmark.
a pool of DKK 110 million is set aside for cleaning up PFAS in drinking water.
a pool of DKK 100 million will be set aside to clean up PFAS in soil.
increase control of products - including online shopping and in physical stores.
strengthen monitoring of PFAS in the aquatic environment, food and food-producing animals.
establish partnerships with industry and ensure targeted information for citizens.
ensure knowledge about PFAS levels in the Danish population.
advise municipalities and water supply companies about PFAS and ensure knowledge about PFAS levels in the Danish population.
work for a general ban on PFAS throughout the EU.

Contact

Anders Baun Professor, Head of Section Environmental Contamination and Chemicals Phone: +45 45251567 Mobile: +45 42702035