Isabel López, second from the left. Credit: Belén Barroeta/IMDEA Agua.

IMDEA Water participated in the event Taking action against PFAS, nitrates, and pesticides: risks, costs, and alternatives, organised las week by the Conama Foundation together with Ecologistas en Acción and the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. The analysis of the challenges associated with these emerging contaminants and the available options for their management, reduction, and prevention brought together representatives from public administrations, research institutions, water operators, and environmental organizations.

The event addressed issues related to PFAS, nitrate and pesticide pollution, water quality, and the current regulatory framework. The impact of these contaminants on human health and ecosystems was also discussed.

Dr. Isabel López, Head of Chemical Analysis Services at IMDEA Water, participated in the roundtable discussion PFAS in water: advances and lessons learned, where she presented the main challenges posed by the presence of these substances in aquatic environments. She also explained the behaviour of PFAS in aquatic systems, as their great chemical diversity affects their detection and analysis.

She also presented the analytical methodologies developed by IMDEA Water for the detection and characterization of these contaminants. Dr. López emphasized the need to integrate the analytical component into research projects from the initial phases “to improve risk identification and the evaluation of solutions.”

The researcher also stressed the importance of prevention as a priority strategy against PFAS contamination. Furthermore, she highlighted the technologies being developed at IMDEA Water within the framework of projects such as AquaHub, focused on the development of advanced membranes for water treatment, and MADISWater, which explores microbial electrochemical systems for the reuse of reclaimed water in agricultural and industrial applications.

López emphasized the role of research centres as spaces where disciplines and sectors meet, capable of generating synergies that facilitate the development of innovative solutions to complex environmental challenges.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are also known as forever chemicals due to their high persistence in the environment. Every year more than 75,000 tons are produced in Europe. Their resistance to degradation favours their accumulation in soils and bodies of water, making them one of today’s major environmental concerns.

IMDEA Agua’s participation in this event allowed for the sharing of research results and the learning of experiences developed by other organizations and institutions. The speakers agreed on the importance of strengthening collaboration between the scientific community, industry, and public administrations, as well as improving risk communication to the public to effectively address the challenges associated with these pollutants.

From left to right: Belén Barroeta, science communicaton of the BIOE group; Isabel López, Head of Chemical Analysis Services; y Alejandra Arcas, advanced laboratory technician.