The UK government has announced plans to strengthen monitoring of per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in soils, as part of its first-ever national strategy to address so‑called “forever chemicals”.
PFAS – a large group of synthetic compounds that persist for decades or centuries – accumulate in water, soil and living organisms. The government describes them as one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, with risks that will “likely remain for hundreds of years”.
Under the new PFAS Plan, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will work across departments, regulators, industry and the scientific community to pinpoint where PFAS originate, how they move through the environment, and how to reduce exposure.
A key element is an upgrade to soil monitoring, which will include new sampling at five yet‑to‑be‑selected sites in England and expanded support for the British Geological Survey.
PFAS in soils: a complex and poorly mapped problem
When asked by AgTechNavigator about the current extent of PFAS contamination in soils, Defra stressed that the picture is highly variable.
“Differences in land use and the way PFAS move through the environment mean their presence is complex and spatially variable across England,” a spokesperson said. “Agricultural practices are considered a pathway of PFAS in the environment, however further research is needed to calculate overall contributions from all sectors.”
Despite growing awareness, the UK still lacks a clear national map of PFAS concentrations in agricultural soils. Regulators say the new sampling effort is intended to establish baseline knowledge and quantify how different land‑use types influence PFAS accumulation.
In parallel, Cranfield University is conducting a desk-based evidence review for Defra on how PFAS may affect soil properties, including structure, fauna and microbial communities. While this will not fill the gap on concentration data, it is expected to give government an early indication of how PFAS might be altering soil health and ecosystem services.
Pesticides and biosolids: two major and under‑examined pathways
Although PFAS are mainly historically linked to fire‑fighting foams and industrial uses, attention is now shifting to agriculture‑relevant sources.
Pesticides are one. Many modern products either contain PFAS directly or degrade into PFAS compounds, raising concerns about long‑term environmental persistence. Defra told AgTechNavigator that it collects pesticide usage data, including information on “some pesticides that are PFAS”, through the Pesticide Usage Survey, but confirmed that more detailed analysis will be needed.
Another major pathway is sewage sludge (biosolids), widely used as fertiliser. Around 94% of sludge from water companies is recycled to land, though only applied on roughly 1.9% of British farms.
Recent sampling from 11 sludge treatment sites found variable levels of PFOS and PFBS, with PFOA below detection limits. Further research is underway to understand how PFAS behave once sludge is applied to farmland – including persistence, crop uptake and movement into water.
Defra is consulting on reforms to sludge regulation to address “the changing chemical composition of sludge, including possible contaminants”.
Government acknowledges scale of the challenge
Launching the plan, Environment Minister Emma Hardy said the long‑term persistence of PFAS means the chemicals threaten both public health and agricultural ecosystems.
“It’s crucial that we protect both public health and the environment for future generations. Through our PFAS Plan, we will act decisively to reduce their harmful effects while transitioning to safer alternatives.”
Hardy said partnership across regulators, industry and local communities will be essential to ensure “forever chemicals are not a forever problem”.
