Understanding PFAS movement in unsaturated soil: The impact of plant water uptake and soil organic carbon
A recent study by Biesek et al. provides new insights via numerical simulations into how the root zone of plants and the distribution of organic carbon in the soil affect PFAS movement. The study investigated the effects of soil organic carbon (SOC) distribution and water uptake by plant roots on PFAS movement in the vadose zone under temperate, humid climate conditions.
May 6, 2025
By applying the HYDRUS computer code to model the leaching of historical PFOS contamination and the infiltration of water contaminated with PFOA. The study considered various soil profiles with different SOC distributions, including no SOC, a realistic SOC distribution decreasing with depth, and a uniform SOC equal to the content measured in topsoil. Additionally, three root distributions (bare soil, grassland, and forest) and three soil textures (sand, sandy loam, and loam) were examined.
The study found that the way organic carbon is distributed in the soil affects how fast PFOS moves. When organic carbon is distributed realistically PFOS moves twice as slow compared to when there is no SOC and even three times as slow compared to uniformly high SOC content in. Furthermore, the root distribution in soil plays a significant role in PFAS migration. Including the root zone in the simulations showed that it slows down the movement of PFAS primarily due to increased evapotranspiration and reduced downward water flux. Another effect of water uptake by plant roots is an increase in PFAS concentrations in soil water, known as evapoconcentration. This evapoconcentration and the slowdown of PFAS movement due to root water uptake are more pronounced in fine-textured soils than in sand.
Want to learn more about how these findings can improve our understanding of PFAS movement through soil? Read the full article “Numerical modelling of PFAS movement through the vadose zone: Influence of plant water uptake and soil organic carbon distribution” by Biesek et al. for an in-depth analysis.
Save the date for the EmConSoil Webinar Series on the 21st and 28th of April and the 5th and 12th of May!
A new EmConSoil webinar series is coming! Get ready for inspiring talks, cutting-edge insights, and practical solutions from leading experts in emerging contaminants, contaminated soils and environmental sustainability. Four sessions are planned at the end of April (21st and 28th) and beginning of May (5th and 12th) 2026 each time from 9:00 till 10:00 CET.
Exploratory societal cost–benefit analysis for PFAS in soil and groundwater: new study points the way toward effective policy
A new OVAM study explores the possibilities of asocietal cost-benefit analysis (SCBA) for PFAS policy in Flanders, with a focus on the management of PFAS in soil and groundwater. The report maps the challenge, describes economic, health, environmental, and social effects, and applies these to two cases (soil investigation and remediation, and soil excavation and relocation). The study reveals the societal impact of different response options, from doing nothing to full remediation, and highlights which measures deliver the greatest public value, which major knowledge gaps remain, and why cleaning up heavily contaminated sites and preventing new emissions are the most cost-effective strategies.
Microplastics and plant health: sources, distribution, toxicity, and remediation
Microplastics have become widespread across the planet as plastic production continues to rise. Most plastics are not recycled, and nearly 80% ends up in landfills or the environment, where they can break down into small fragments that spread through air, water, and soil. These microplastics come from many everyday sources: synthetic clothing fibres, car tire wear, agricultural films, packaging, sewage sludge, personal care products with microbeads, and even medical waste such as disposable masks.
Understanding chemical contamination in free-range eggs: what recent research on brominated flame retardants reveals
In several polluted regions, eggs from outdoor foraging chickens were found to contain brominated flame retardants (BFRs), chemicals such as PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) and HBCDD (hexabromocyclododecane). These chemicals are often added to plastics, textiles and electronics in order to reduce fire risk. These substances, along with their toxic degradation products, known as polybrominated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans (PBDD/Fs), are known to persist in soil, dust and fragments of discarded materials long after the products themselves are thrown away. Foraging chickens have been found to contain brominated flame retardants (BFRs)dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBDD/Fs).
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