PFAS in Soil and Groundwater: Comprehensive Challenges and Progress in Regulation and Management in Germany

Abstract

AbstractPer and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are substances of very high concern. Because of their persistence and their ubiquitous presence in the environment they are called forever chemicals. Some substances of the large group of PFAS are bioaccumulating and toxic, other substances are very mobile in soil and reach groundwater easily. Humans take up PFAS mainly via food including drinking water, which is often produced from groundwater. Thresholds for PFAS in drinking water are so low that environmental concentrations are often already above those levels. Thus, strategies to deal with PFAS in soil and groundwater are urgently needed. The number of (suspected) sites contaminated with PFAS is rising. The reason is that the awareness about PFAS is increasing and thus more areas are being investigated. However, clean-up and remediation of contaminated sites is costly and difficult, if possible at all. Until the implementation of legally binding values for PFAS in soil and groundwater and their verified derivation. a German guideline for PFAS assessment currently provides available media-related assessment bases and criteria. This paper covers the current state of knowledge on PFAS and suggests solutions for dealing with PFAS contaminated soils and groundwater.