A groundbreaking new £2 million UKRI project has been launched to tackle major knowledge gaps regarding 'forever chemicals' that contaminate our waterways.
Led by Imperial College London in partnership with King's, Brunel University of London, and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), UNSaFE (UNderstanding the Scale, Sources, Fate and Effects of PFAS pollution) will investigate the impacts of per-and poly-fluoroaklyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as 'forever chemicals'.
With an estimated 15,000 PFAS chemicals thought to exist, only 63 have been detected worldwide, meaning that the true scale of contamination remains largely unknown. Many PFAS are resistant to natural degradation and can accumulate in aquatic organisms, posing risks to both ecosystems and human health. In the UK, for example, over 90% of surface waters downstream of wastewater treatment plants have been found to exceed environmental quality standards for a single PFAS compound, perfluoro-octanoic acid.
PFAS pollution presents a significant challenge for environmental and human health. By advancing our understanding of how these chemicals move through ecosystems and affect living organisms, UNSaFE will help to establish clear thresholds for risk and provide the tools to prioritise action. This is an important step towards safeguarding our waters for future generations."
Christer Hogstrand, Professor of Molecular Ecotoxicology, King's College London
The project will develop and apply new broad-scope laboratory testing methods to monitor PFAS in both water and wildlife, investigate how PFAS structures determine persistence, mobility, and bioaccumulation, and use cutting-edge multi-omics approaches to better understand PFAS impacts on organisms. It will also co-develop a nationwide PFAS monitoring programme with the Environment Agency, academic partners, and large-scale citizen science initiatives such as Earthwatch.
Building on King's' ambition to develop innovative predictive models and harness artificial intelligence to address the world's most pressing challenges, UNSaFE will apply next-generation methods to transform how we understand chemical toxicity.
At King's, we are developing next-generation predictive methods powered by AI to decode the adverse health effects of chemicals and drugs in ways not previously possible. Within UNSaFE, this will provide a new perspective on how PFAS cause harm, turning complex biology into precision evidence that guides better decisions to protect both environmental and human health."
Dr Luigi Margiotta-Casaluci, Senior Lecturer in Mechanistic & Translational Toxicology, King's College London
UNSaFE will also apply innovative technologies ranging from 3D-printed technologies, to high-resolution mass spectrometry and AI-driven modelling tools to build a national capacity for PFAS risk assessment. Importantly, over 3,000 people in the UK will be engaged through national-scale "Water Blitz" events, empowering citizens to contribute directly to monitoring efforts by bringing critical local knowledge to the project.
This collaboration between leading UK universities, the Environment Agency, and the public will create a step-change in how PFAS are understood and managed nationally. By integrating citizen science with next-generation digital and analytical tools, UNSaFE will ensure that regulators and policymakers are equipped with the evidence they need to safeguard the environment and limit further PFAS impacts.
