What is your interest in joining this session? - 3 answers per participant possible

What are the ECs, you are currently focusing on? - 3 answers per participant possible

1. Initial Triggers
   
   The PFAS crisis in Flanders served as a wake-up call. Between 2016 and 2018, a comprehensive PFAS measuring campaign was launched, targeting high-risk activities. Twenty-four sites were selected for soil and groundwater testing involving 21 PFAS compounds. The results highlighted significant contamination, particularly at firefighting training grounds. This prompted the integration of PFAS into routine soil investigations and marked the beginning of a structured and preventive policy approach.
   
   
2. Initial Issues
   
   Following the crisis escalation in July 2021, the Flemish authorities, through OVAM and local municipalities, launched two large-scale inventory calls. The first targeted sites where fire extinguishing foam had been used—including training facilities, industrial fire services, and airports—resulting in the identification of 826 locations. The second focused on industries known to process or produce PFAS, such as textile, paper, and galvanic sectors, leading to the identification of over 7,500 locations.
   
   
3. Developed Solutions
   
   Several remedial and policy solutions emerged in response. These included extensive site investigations, the issuance of precautionary communication ("no-regret measures"), and the establishment of a temporary legal framework for PFAS soil remediation and reuse. Background levels of anthropogenic PFAS were studied, and co-financing mechanisms were introduced for soil investigations. PFAS-related
   activities were officially classified as risk activities, triggering new regulatory obligations.
4. Current, new challenges
   
   Despite significant progress, several challenges remain. There is a pressing need to develop a robust and adaptive legal framework that reflects the evolving scientific understanding of PFAS. Remediation technologies must be refined, and concepts of remediation need to account for cost-effectiveness and environmental sustainability. Parallel investigations are also underway for other contaminants, including pesticides and micro- and nanoplastics.
   
   
5. Ongoing developments and expectations 
   
   The PFAS experience has compelled a re-evaluation of policies and legislative approaches. OVAM has initiated a social cost-benefit analysis to support policy development. International cooperation is seen as essential for harmonizing approaches to ECs, and the European Soil Monitoring Law is expected to play a critical role in standardizing risk assessment and remediation practices across borders.
   
   
6. Future Hurdles and collaborative opportunities
   
   The presence of PFAS in residential areas due to historical land use changes underscores the complexity of legacy contamination. Legal uncertainty, rapidly evolving knowledge, and the widespread use of PFAS outside of production sites present considerable challenges for environmental management and real estate development.
   
   

1. Initial Triggers
   
   In Denmark, regulatory changes significantly tightened the PFAS threshold in drinking water from 100 ng/L to just 2 ng/L. This shift, coupled with national data infrastructure, led to a surge in environmental measurements and the identification of major contamination events.
   
   
2. Initial issues
   
   The Korsør Fire Academy and Tune water utility can be considered ground zero for the PFAS crisis in Denmark.
   
   
3. Developed Solutions
   
   Denmark responded with a multi-faceted approach. Strategic alliances were formed, turning impacted sites into living labs for testing and innovation. Data sharing and prioritization efforts were emphasized, focusing first on the most severely affected areas. Public funding supported research into advanced remediation technologies, including stabilization, separation, degradation, and destruction. New analytical methods were developed with extremely low detection limits.
   
   
4. Current, new challenges
   
   The advancement of non-target analysis (NTA) and fingerprinting techniques has opened new possibilities for identifying thousands of unknown or lesser-known environmental compounds. This has led to questions about their persistence, mobility, and toxicity, prompting a reevaluation of previously "closed" sites. Collaborative projects have emerged to coordinate sampling, interpret data, and create national databases for NTA results, involving scientists, regulators, utilities, and laboratories.
   
   
5. Ongoing developments and expectations
   
   Acting on scientific data that is still evolving has required Danish authorities to embrace new strategies for risk communication. Balancing realism with reassurance has become essential for maintaining public trust. Initiatives aim to inform the public without causing inaction or panic, acknowledging that perfect scientific certainty is rarely attainable.
   
   
6. Future Hurdles and collaborative opportunities
   
   The Danish experience has highlighted the pervasive nature of anthropogenic pollution. Authorities must navigate a path from ambitious goals toward realistic and pragmatic solutions, accepting temporary tolerance in some cases. A holistic approach is needed to avoid unintended consequences, such as regrettable substitutions. The continued protection of sensitive areas, particularly drinking water resources, remains a priority.