LONDON — UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has announced a £2 million investment in UNSaFE (Understanding Scale, Sources, Fate, and Effects of PFAS Pollution), a four-year research project designed to comprehensively investigate the scale, sources, fate, and effects of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) pollution.
Leading Institutions Join Forces
The project is led by Imperial College London in collaboration with King’s College London, Brunel University London, and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH). The Environment Agency and environmental charity Earthwatch are also participating as key partners.
PFAS: The Hidden Threat Known as “Forever Chemicals”
PFAS refers to a category of more than 10,000 artificial substances collectively known as “forever chemicals” due to their extreme resistance to degradation in natural environments and their tendency to accumulate in aquatic organisms. These substances are widely used in everyday products including cookware, waterproof jackets, food packaging, and firefighting foam.
Severe Contamination in UK Waters
Currently, only 63 of the nearly 15,000 known PFAS substances have been detected. Alarmingly, in the UK, more than 90% of river waters downstream of wastewater treatment plants exceed environmental quality standards for a single PFAS species—Perfluorooctanoic Acid. Certain UK rivers contain PFAS levels 10 to 20 times higher than EU safe limits.
Exposure to PFAS is associated with various health problems, including certain cancers (notably kidney and testicular cancer), liver damage, fertility issues, and toxicity to wildlife.
Four Key Research Areas
1. Monitoring and Analysis
The project will focus on the Thames River Basin, collecting and analyzing water, sediment, and biological samples. It will monitor 24 priority PFAS substances already regulated by EU legislation and develop novel laboratory detection techniques.
2. Bioaccumulation Studies
Led by Dr. Thomas Miller of Brunel University, this research will examine PFAS bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms ranging from invertebrates to fish, identifying which compounds pose the greatest hazards.
3. Advanced Technology Applications
The project will employ artificial intelligence to predict health effects of PFAS on organisms, utilize genomics to understand how PFAS impacts biological systems in exposed organisms, and deploy cutting-edge technologies including high-resolution mass spectrometry, 3D printing, and multi-omics methods.
4. Citizen Science Engagement
Through Earthwatch, the project will mobilize over 3,000 volunteers to organize nationwide “Water Blitz” events, testing water quality in rivers, streams, and lakes across the UK, empowering communities to actively participate in waterway protection.
Project Goals and Significance
The UNSaFE project aims to establish science-based safety thresholds to inform environmental protection policies, provide policymakers with clear evidence to comprehensively tackle PFAS pollution, understand where and how these substances accumulate, establish national PFAS risk assessment capabilities, and lay foundations for more stringent environmental regulations.
Professor Christer Hogstrand, Professor of Molecular Ecotoxicology at King’s College London, stated: “This represents the most in-depth study to date into how PFAS enter and persist in water systems across the UK. By increasing our understanding of how such substances distribute in and impact ecosystems, UNSaFE will aid in the development of clear thresholds of risk as well as tools for prioritization, which is an essential step in securing our water for future generations.”
The project will combine citizen science approaches with novel digital analysis technologies to ensure regulators have sufficient data-informed understanding of PFAS in water systems to limit further environmental damage.
Source:The official information about this project was originally released by the participating institutions (Imperial College London, King’s College London, Brunel University London, and UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology) in October 2025.
