Earthwatch joins £2M national project to tackle “forever chemicals” in UK rivers and wildlife
10th October 2025
Citizen scientists will play crucial role in identifying PFAS pollution across the UK through WaterBlitz campaigns
Earthwatch is proud to be continuing its freshwater partnership with Imperial College London with UNSaFE (UNderstanding the Scale, Sources, Fate and Effects of PFAS pollution), a groundbreaking £2 million UKRI-funded research project launched to address critical knowledge gaps about per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contaminating UK waterways.
What are forever chemicals?
PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals,” are persistent synthetic compounds that resist natural degradation and accumulate in aquatic organisms, posing significant risks to both ecosystems and human health. With an estimated 15,000 PFAS chemicals in existence, only 63 have been detected worldwide, meaning the true scale of contamination remains largely unknown.
In the UK, over 90% of surface waters downstream of wastewater treatment plants exceed environmental quality standards for perfluoro-octanoic acid, a single PFAS compound.
Project goals and innovation
Running from 2025 to 2029, UNSaFE is led by Imperial College London in partnership with Brunel University London, King’s College London, and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), with critical input from the Environment Agency and Earthwatch.
The project will:
- Develop new broad-scope laboratory testing methods to monitor PFAS in water and wildlife
- Co-develop a nationwide PFAS monitoring programme integrating citizen science data
- Investigate how PFAS chemical structures determine persistence, mobility, and bioaccumulation
- Use multi-omics approaches to understand PFAS impacts on organisms
- Establish science-based environmental protection thresholds
In alignment with the NERC Digital Strategy 2021-2030, UNSaFE will deploy innovative, scalable technologies including 3D-printed sampling tools, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and AI-driven modelling to build national capacity for PFAS risk assessment.
“PFAS are among the most complex and persistent emerging pollutants we face. Through UNSaFE, we have a unique opportunity to build a national picture of their sources, scale, and effects by combining cutting-edge science with citizen-led monitoring. This project will give regulators and policymakers the evidence they need to take timely, informed action to protect the environment.”
Professor Leon Barron, Project Lead at Imperial College London’s Environmental Research Group
Earthwatch’s role: engaging citizen scientists
As a key partner in the UNSaFE project, Earthwatch will mobilise thousands of volunteers across the UK through our Great UK WaterBlitz campaigns. These national, mass-participation events will enable communities to contribute directly to PFAS monitoring efforts, bringing vital local knowledge to the scientific research.
The UNSaFE project is an ambitious step toward tackling PFAS pollution in our waterways. Earthwatch Europe is excited to engage volunteers across the UK through our Great UK WaterBlitz campaigns, using citizen-generated data to strengthen national monitoring and advance cutting-edge science.
Dr Sasha Woods, Director of Science and Policy, Earthwatch Europe
Why citizen science matters
This collaboration demonstrates the power of citizen science to drive meaningful environmental change. By integrating community engagement with next-generation digital and analytical tools, UNSaFE will create a step-change in how PFAS are understood and managed in the UK.
Earthwatch volunteers will not only contribute to critical water quality data collection but will also gain deeper understanding of freshwater pollution issues affecting their local communities.
