Amsterdam – PFAS are man-made chemicals found in everyday products such as cookware and waterproof clothing due to their resistance to heat and water. They do not break down in the environment and accumulate in living organisms, including humans, with potentially carcinogenic effects. Because of their persistence, they are often called “forever chemicals.”
Researchers at Sapienza University of Rome have made a major breakthrough: Eduardo Di Marcantonio, a PhD student in the Department of Earth Sciences under Professors Luigi Dallai and Massimo Marchesi, developed the first analytical method for isotopic analysis of major PFAS in the environment. This technique allows researchers to differentiate multiple sources of contamination and track their dispersion even in widespread pollution scenarios.
The team created a protocol to generate unique “isotopic fingerprints” for PFAS from different industrial producers, enabling the identification of contaminant origins even when multiple sources are present. Their study, published in Science of The Total Environment, demonstrated significant isotopic differences among PFAS from various sources, opening the door to precise environmental monitoring.
This work was developed at one of Europe’s most advanced stable isotope laboratories, established at the Department of Earth Sciences to support environmental protection and public health. The method is currently part of a pilot project in collaboration with CNR, analyzing samples from the PFAS-contaminated “red zone” in the province of Vicenza.