Exposure for generations: PFAS in the environment

PFAS chemicals end up in the environment and pollute it for generations. The substances in this huge class of substances accumulate in the environment and many may accumulate in the human body. Some PFAS are linked to diseases such as cancer, metabolic disorders and immune damage or negative effects on fertility and babies in the womb. Transition to safe alternatives is therefore urgently needed.

News

News

Events

19.11.​2025
Practice-oriented course
Environmental Analytics: Challenges and Advances in Mass Spectrometry
8.30 am
Eawag Dübendorf

The PFAS web portal from Empa, Eawag and the Ecotox Centre provides facts and background information on pollution caused by this problematic class of substances – and what the three institutes are doing to combat it.

To Exposure for generations: PFAS in the environment

Background

More detailed information on the topic.
 

 
PFAS – what is it?

Federal Office for the Environment dossier on per- and polyfluorinated alkyl compounds (PFAS) (in German).

 
Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl compounds (PFAS)

Information from the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office on PFAS (in German).

 
PFAS in groundwater

Information from the Federal Office for the environment on the occurrence of PFAS in groundwater.

 
TFA in groundwater

Information from the Federal Office for the environment on the occurrence of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in groundwater.

 
Trifluoroacetic Acid and Other PFAS in Groundwater: the Role of Plant Protection Products

An evaluation by Agroscope classifies the extent to which plant protection products contribute to PFAS contamination of groundwater.

Publications for practice

2025
PFAS – Forever Chemicals
Pocket Facts from Empa, Eawag and the Oekotox Centre
2025
PFAS: Occurrence, risks and approaches to action
Scnat factsheet (in German)
2025
Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl compounds (PFAS) in the environment
Ecotox Centre info sheet (in German)

Experts

Dr. Christa McArdell
  • activated carbon
  • wastewater treatment
  • mass fluxes
  • micropollutants
  • ozonation
Dr. Christian Stamm
  • wastewater
  • agriculture
  • water quality
Dr. Alexandra Kroll
  • Risk assessment
  • aquatic ecotoxicology
  • Flow cytometry
  • inorganic contaminants
  • regulation of chemicals
Dr. Marion Junghans
  • algae
  • aquatic ecotoxicology
  • micropollutants
  • ecotoxicology
Prof. Dr. Juliane Hollender
  • Computational methods
  • biological degradation
  • bioaccumulation
  • groundwater
  • mass spectrometry
Dr. Serina Robinson
  • Microbiology
  • biotransformation
  • Metagenomics
  • pharmaceuticals
  • biodegradation

Research projects

This project investigates microbial enzymes that are capable of binding and biotransforming fluorinated compounds.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals used for decades in industrial and consumer applications due to their…
PFASs removal from water with superfine powdered activated carbon and…
PFAS during wastewater treatment
Occurrence of PFASs in Swiss Wastewater Treatment Plants

Network

We work together with a wide variety of partners.

The Centre for Applied Ecotoxicology in Switzerland aims to identify and assess the effects of chemicals on our environment and to develop strategies to minimise risks.

Ecotox Centre

Empa is a Swiss research institute that conducts research on materials, the environment, health, energy and sustainable technologies.

Empa

Cover picture: Symbolic image, Shutterstock