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PFAS contamination of groundwater can also affect agricultural products and contribute to human exposure through food and beverages. This study investigated PFAS in wines produced within and around a major contaminated area in Northern Italy. Short-chain PFAS, particularly perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), were frequently detected and linked to local groundwater contamination. The results suggest that wine may serve both as a bioindicator of groundwater contamination and as a potential dietary exposure pathway. 

PFAS contamination is widespread across Europe, but removing these persistent chemicals from the environment is technically difficult and extremely costly. This study estimates the costs and potential impact of large-scale PFAS remediation across the EU. Even extensive treatment of contaminated soil, drinking water, wastewater, sludge and landfill leachate would remove only a small fraction of ongoing emissions. The results demonstrate that remediation must be combined with strong control of PFAS emissions at their source.

PFAS contamination is not only an environmental and health issue, but also a challenge of environmental justice and access to reliable knowledge. Based on 25 documented PFAS conflicts worldwide, this study examines how scientific uncertainty, chemical persistence and information asymmetries shape affected communities. The authors describe how the largely invisible nature of PFAS contamination can delay recognition and regulatory action. The study highlights the importance of combining scientific evidence with the experiences and knowledge of exposed communities. 

Microplastics are increasingly detected in groundwater, yet their occurrence, transport and environmental relevance remain difficult to assess. A systematic review of 82 field studies from 28 countries demonstrates their presence across a wide range of hydrogeological settings. Large differences in reported concentrations are strongly influenced by inconsistent sampling and analytical methods. Standardised monitoring is therefore essential for developing reliable groundwater quality criteria and future regulatory frameworks. 

PFAS in the unsaturated zone can remain a long-term source of groundwater contamination. A two-year Danish field study shows that precipitation and infiltration, soil composition and secondary PFAS reservoirs control mobilisation and vertical transport, with distinct behaviour for short- and long-chain PFAS. 

The European Soil Monitoring Law (Directive), published in the Official Journal on 26 November 2025 and entering into force on 16 December 2025 was presented by Esther Goidts, who is a soil scientist and seconded policy officer at the European Commission. Soils deliver critical ecosystem services—including food and biomass production, water purification, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity support—yet most European soils are degraded, with contamination contributing to annual economic costs exceeding €50 billion. The Directive represents a landmark step toward achieving healthy soils across the European Union by 2050. Developed to address widespread soil degradation, the Directive establishes a coherent, integrated framework for monitoring soil health, enhancing resilience, and managing contamination.  

Flanders has developed a practical, science-driven system for setting PFAS limits in soil and excavated materials. This approach carefully balances the protection of human health and the environment with the practical need for soil reuse. The framework was presented by Kaat Touchant and Ingeborg Joris from VITO the Flemish institute for technological research. 

Sweden has taken a proactive, science-based approach to managing PFAS-contaminated sites, particularly those originating from historical use of aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) at firefighting training areas.  Since 2022, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has coordinated a governmental assignment, in collaboration with other authorities, to enhance understanding of PFAS pollution and develop effective remediation strategies. This work remains ongoing with several years of funding secured. Niclas Johansson, project manager for the Swedish government’s national initiative on PFAScontaminated sites (RUPFO), shared the project findings during the webinar. 

Australia offers a highly relevant case study of how PFAS contamination challenges conventional approaches to environmental governance and risk assessment. This perspective was presented by Matthew Askeland, Principal Environmental Scientist at ADE Consulting Group, and Karl Bowles, Senior Principal Environmental Scientist at Jacobs and Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Queensland (QAEHS), both representing ALGA’s Emerging Contaminants of Concern Special Interest Group. 

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.