How to build (or refresh) your knowledge of environmental water quality
Published on: 23 Oct 2024
Read moreToday is #TechnicalTuesday so #teamWRc Toxicologist Marek Pípal is raising awareness of 'forever chemicals' and the concerns surrounding them.
Polyfluoralkyl Substances (PFAS) - the so called ‘forever chemicals’ - are among the most pressing problems in terms of anthropogenic pollution of drinking water. This group of chemicals are now virtually everywhere, having been used in waterproof and non-stick materials, and are extremely persistent. The ubiquitous presence in food, water and even people is increasingly concerning since PFAS have been shown to pose a threat to human health at very low concentration - close to the actual limits of detection.
The issue is even more challenging: despite legislation banning the most prominent PFASs, new compounds with similar properties are being introduced by manufacturers. The risk assessment for the new compounds is usually carried out with a read-across approach, using the data from similar compounds. A key focus for the National Centre for Environmental Toxicology (NCET) team at WRc is to provide protective risk assessments and trustworthy advice to water companies, using the most up-to-date research and studies.