Too good to be true: the PFAS Dilemma
In the Upper Room of the University Museum Utrecht (UMU), next to the Old Botanical Garden, we gathered with representatives from Utrecht University, the province and municipality of Utrecht, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, TNO, RIVM, KRW, and many other interested parties. The topic of the day: PFAS. Daan Fraanje and Hanneke Olivier from Utrecht University hosted the event.
Jeroen Hutten, Head of the Sustainability Office at Utrecht University, aptly introduced the theme with, “Sometimes something seems too good to be true, and in this case, it is.” These per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were first discovered around 1938 and became widely used in the 1970s because of their unique properties, such as being water-, grease-, and dirt-repellent. PFAS were seen as a fantastic invention, applicable in countless industrial and consumer products. PFAS are extremely chemically stable and nearly non-degradable. They’re also highly resistant to extreme conditions, like heat, and can form a very stable foaming agent, ideal for firefighting foam, when mixed with other types of soap.
The beginning: The BHV field at Münsterlaan
Firefighting foam was precisely what brought us together that day. Frank Kooiman from UU explained that in 1987, the BHV field at Münsterlaan was used as a practice spot for firefighting, with significant amounts of foam sprayed on it. The site was superficially cleaned in 2014, but around 2018, awareness grew that PFAS were a more problematic invention than initially thought, and superficial cleanup might not be enough. These "forever chemicals" pose a local, national, and global problem, as they are present everywhere and toxic even at relatively low concentrations. So, what do we do with the field now? Thanks to the intervention of Harry Boerma from the Municipality of Utrecht, the decision was made to avoid the traditional “dig & dump” method, which would only move the problem elsewhere. This led to the idea of the PFAS Remediation Living Lab, with permission from the municipality to experiment with alternative, more sustainable ways to clean up PFAS.
This delay of execution will hopefully lead us to real solutions, said Harry Boerma.
Let nature do the work
The PFAS Remediation Living Lab is coordinated by Johan van Leeuwen, an associate scientist at Utrecht University. He is particularly interested in understanding how PFAS behaves in our environment and exploring ways to clean it up. If we could use microbiology alongside physical methods, it would be ideal – let nature do the work! PFAS is a huge problem because it is present in so many items, Johan explained: rainwear, pizza boxes, nail polish, cars, pans, air, water, and even humans. PFAS behaves differently from other molecules, making it crucial to research how it interacts with various substances and moves through different soil types to understand how to clean it up and ultimately destroy it.
How do we get rid of it?
To get rid of PFAS, we need to study how to extract it from soil and water and how to destroy the PFAS molecules. Mathijs van de Waardt from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management stressed the importance of legislation and collaboration. A European ban on PFAS would be a first step to prevent even more PFAS from entering our society. Aiko Hensums from the Province of Utrecht is involved in various projects to clean up PFAS-contaminated soils, including one at the former Soesterberg airbase, where a new residential area is planned. The issue is time: how long will it take to find effective solutions? He hopes for quick results that enable sustainable PFAS remediation, especially considering costs; cleaning up the Soesterberg site alone is projected to cost around 23 million euros.
Researchers at work
It is no coincidence that the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management allocated 2.45 million euros for further research into PFAS soil contamination and the development of innovative remediation techniques. Emilie Schreiber, Valerie de Rijk, and Alex Hockin recently started their PhDs at Utrecht University to work on this.
Emilie Schreiber, from the Science Faculty, focuses on working with microorganisms. She wants to examine how they are affected by PFAS and their potential for bioremediation. While earlier studies have shown that some microbial strains or mixed cultures can break down certain PFAS compounds, the exact breakdown routes remain unclear. One of her biggest challenges is uncovering these microbial degradation mechanisms. This knowledge is crucial because it could guide us on how to use these microbes effectively for practical bioremediation.
I’ll be satisfied if, by the end of my PhD, my insights allow us to use microorganisms more effectively against PFAS contamination. This would open the door to valuable applications for the environment, says Emilie.
Alex Hockin, from the Faculty of Geosciences, is researching how PFAS moves through soil. She studies the impact of various processes using laboratory experiments and computer models. By better understanding how PFAS behaves in soil and groundwater, strategies could be tested to flush PFAS out of soil. PFAS behaves differently from other contaminants, and there is much to learn about how it behaves across different soil types, minerals, and water levels. PFAS properties themselves, such as chain length and chemical structure, also play a role in these interactions, making it even more challenging. Alex hopes to find a suitable method for PFAS removal that can be tested at the pilot site in Utrecht, tailored to the local soil and PFAS types.
Valerie de Rijk, also from the Faculty of Geosciences, focuses on understanding large-scale PFAS behavior in soil to better assess how remediation methods could be scaled up. “We want to study how PFAS properties and various Dutch soil types affect the speed of PFAS transport. We do this using models, field measurements, and a new analysis method (CSIA),” Valerie explained. The biggest challenge is simplifying PFAS's complex behavior to predict its spread and the effect of remediation better. Valerie will be pleased if her research advances our knowledge of PFAS behavior and remediation.
Although the complexity of PFAS left some attendees feeling a bit discouraged, there was a strong willingness to collaborate and share knowledge. More testing sites, the drive and capacity to share insights, and, of course, funding are all necessary. Jan Fokkens from VNO-NCW immediately offered testing grounds on behalf of the industry, eager to contribute to PFAS knowledge development. This approach will hopefully lead to an environmentally friendly and sustainable solution that can remove PFAS from our world for good.
Background article: PFAS are everywhere. How can we get rid of them?
Despite ongoing efforts, there are no efficient, sustainable methods to remove PFAS from the environment yet. A team of scientists from Utrecht University is trying to change this by exploring ways to break the PFAS contamination cycle. Their unique position allows them to experiment with PFAS-contaminated soil at Utrecht Science Park, where they can also test various remediation methods.