Revolutionizing the PFAS Source Identification in Drinking Water with a Novel Stable Isotope Method
Short description
PFAS – per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – are a group of man-made chemicals found in everything from frying pans to firefighting foam. PFAS are found in drinking water, and although the levels are often very low, the chemicals have been linked to serious health problems such as cancer, hormone disruption, and weakened immune systems. PFAS do not break down in nature and can remain in water and soil for a long time. One of the biggest challenges with PFAS is identifying exactly where they come from. This research project is developing a completely new method for tracing the sources of PFAS in drinking water. The method is based on stable isotopes, a type of tracer that reveals the manufacturing process that the various PFAS substances have undergone.
Novel method for tracking PFAS
PFAS spreads from many different sources, such as industries, military facilities, and airports. There are also chemicals that are converted into hazardous PFAS in nature. Tracking pollution and stopping the spread of PFAS is necessary to protect our environment and health.
The research project aims to develop a completely new method for finding out where PFAS pollution comes from. The method is based on so-called stable isotopes – small chemical traces that act as fingerprints. By analyzing these, it is possible to identify the manufacturing process that PFAS substances have undergone and link them to specific sources of pollution in a way that has not been possible before.
Field studie will take place in the urban area of the Uppsala region close to Stockholm, Sweden, as well as at the Stockholm Arlanda Airport, north of Stockholm.
International research collaboration
The project is based on an international research collaboration that provides access to world-leading knowledge in the field. The studies use the Stable Isotope Facility (ISOGOT) at the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Gothenburg as well as tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). This work is done in collaboration with the University of Waterloo in Canada and Associate Prof. Orfan Shouakar-Stash, who has more than 25 years of experience in the development and application of stable isotope methods for contaminant source allocation in aquatic environments.
Better health for future generations
With better knowledge of where emissions occur, the hope is that efforts can be targeted more effectively and improve the remediation of contaminated water. In the long term, the goal is for this research to contribute to cleaner drinking water, better health, and a safer environment for future generations.
