Ganges River study highlights gaps in PFAS monitoring

A study of sediment samples from the Ganges River has revealed that conventional PFAS testing may capture only a small proportion of the total fluorinated contamination present in the environment.

Researchers from The James Hutton Institute, the University of Graz, Warsaw University of Technology and the Indian Institute of Technology analysed sediment samples collected from 14 locations along a 58 km stretch of the river. Using advanced chemical analysis and a mass balance approach, the team compared measurements of known PFAS compounds with the total amount of organic fluorine present.

The study found that more than 40 PFAS compounds typically monitored by standard methods accounted for less than 1% of the total organic fluorine detected in the sediment. The results highlight a significant gap between known and unidentified fluorinated contaminants, suggesting that current monitoring approaches may underestimate the complexity of environmental PFAS pollution.

Dr Viktoria Mueller, researcher at The James Hutton Institute and one of the study’s lead authors, said: “A large proportion of the fluorine we detected cannot yet be linked to known PFAS. This suggests we are only seeing part of the picture, and that improved analytical strategies are essential for effective environmental risk assessment.”

Professor Joerg Feldmann from the University of Graz added: “What we currently measure is only the tip of the iceberg. Most PFAS in sediments remain invisible to conventional analysis, leaving us with an incomplete understanding of how these chemicals move and persist in the environment.”

The researchers suggest that broader analytical approaches will be essential to identify unknown fluorinated compounds and support more effective monitoring and regulation of persistent fluorinated chemicals.

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