Exploratory societal cost–benefit analysis for PFAS in soil and groundwater: new study points the way toward effective policy
What are the societal and economic impact of PFAS in soil and groundwater? An exploratory study lays the foundation for further insights into the situation in Flanders.
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.
Although prevention – avoiding PFAS entering soil and groundwater – remains important, the focus of this study is on the societal costs and benefits of managing existing contamination. Not all identified effects could be quantified or monetized; where data were available, initial estimates were made. Costs proved easier to calculate than benefits, especially regarding health effects. This leads to the risk that remediation or soil excavation and relocation is too quickly deemed unprofitable, while benefits often extend over multiple generations and are difficult to measure. Therefore, no aggregation or discounting was performed. Perceptions and social effects also play a role and deserve further attention.
The study is exploratory and should not be seen as an endpoint. It emphasizes the need for better and more consistent data collection, a broader consideration of effects, and the possible complementing of SCBA with other approaches, such as the precautionary principle, risk acceptance, and multi-attribute analysis.
Read the full study here (in Dutch with English summary)
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