In response to rising concerns over pollution from toxic “forever chemicals”, an expert team coordinated by ARAGORN and with inputs from ZeroPM has delivered recommendations to the European Commission on how to monitor PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in European soils.
PFAS are a group of over 12,000 synthetic substances used in industrial and consumer products, many of which persist in the environment and can pose health risks. With their increasing presence in soil, water, and food, the need for effective monitoring has become urgent.
The proposed approach supports the EU’s upcoming Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive (SMRD), combining targeted PFAS analysis with broader screening for unidentified contamination. The initial rollout is expected to tie into the 2026 LUCAS soil survey and will focus on using existing lab methods, making it feasible within a tight timeframe and budget. The strategy recommends testing for 43 key PFAS compounds using a combination of LC-MS/MS methods, and assessing total PFAS levels with cost-effective techniques such as EOF (extractable organofluorine) or TOP (total oxidizable precursor) assay. This comprehensive monitoring can be achieved within an estimated €500–€600 per sample.
The 43 PFAS were selected to reflect common PFAS sub-groups with a strong tendency to bind to soils, helping ensure the monitoring captures the most indicative substances for identifying pollution sources. Meanwhile, the highly mobile and persistent trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) was recommended for analysis in water rather than soil, as water sampling of TFA is less affected by weather-related variations.
The experts also advise aligning soil monitoring with water, food, and air regulations to ensure consistency and reduce regulatory overlap. Aligning regulations, they note, will also help reduce the complexity of implementation for farmers, waterworks, and environmental authorities.
By identifying hotspots and tracking trends, the new system aims to prevent pollution before it spreads and hold polluters accountable — a crucial step in protecting Europe’s soils, water resources, and public health.
For more detailed information, find the list of Aragorn PFAS43 here.
