Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are often called 'forever chemicals' because they barely break down once released into the environment. They are now found almost everywhere: in rivers, soils, sediments, wildlife, and even in the human body.
Growing evidence links PFAS to serious risks for ecosystems and human health, raising concerns that they could continue cycling through the environment for centuries.
In this lecture, Professor Patrick Byrne, Liverpool John Moores University, explains why PFAS pose such a long-term challenge and how modern hydrology can help tackle it.
By using new tools to track water movement and chemical transport, hydrological science can reveal hidden PFAS sources, clarify how these chemicals spread, and provide the evidence needed to reduce PFAS pollution at its source, before it becomes a truly forever problem.
About the speaker
Patrick Byrne is a Professor of Water Science at Liverpool John Moores University. His research focusses on understanding sources and transport dynamics of organic and inorganic contaminants in ground waters, surface waters, and coastal environments.
He has worked extensively on mine pollution source apportionment to support remediation strategies across the UK, USA, Canada, South Africa, China, and the Philippines.
More recently, his research has expanded to PFAS contamination, with an emphasis on load-based monitoring, catchment-scale source attribution, and the processes controlling PFAS mobilisation in river systems.
This event has been organised by the North West regional committee with Liverpool John Moores University.
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