PFAS levels in shallow soils
A study by the British Geological Survey and the Environment Agency examines the prevalence of PFAS chemicals in shallow soils across England. The research highlights the difficulty of establishing baseline data for these persistent 'forever chemicals' and the challenges of environmental remediation.
Why it matters
PFAS contamination is a growing global environmental crisis that poses long-term risks to soil health and water safety.
PFAS are now widely recognised as a pressing environmental concern. They are pervasive, accumulating across environments – including soils. A collaborative study between the British Geological Survey (BGS) and the Environment Agency shed light on this pressing issue, focusing specifically on PFAS concentrations in shallow soils across England. Detailed through a co-authored journal article , the study compared archive and contemporary PFAS concentrations in targeted soil samples to identify patterns and trends over time.
To learn more, we spoke with the British Geological Survey about the research, its findings, and how it improved our understanding of PFAS prevalence and its potential environmental consequences in shallow soils across England.
The study provides a published comparison of archived and contemporary shallow soils to assess whether historical samples could be used to determine background concentrations of PFAS in England.
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