Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are emerging organic pollutants widely detected in environmental systems, posing risks to human health and the ecosystem. Despite increasing efforts to monitor PFAS in river systems, knowledge gaps remain regarding sources and emissions via different pathways. This study investigates PFAS contamination across multiple environmental compartments in the Upper Danube Basin, including surface water, groundwater, wastewater, landfill leachate, surface runoff, and atmospheric deposition. The primary objectives are to assess the extent of PFAS contamination, identify key emission sources and transport pathways, and evaluate associated risks in terms of the potential exceedance of current and proposed environmental regulatory thresholds in the European Union.
ResultsThe findings reveal a widespread presence of PFAS, with PFOA, PFOS and short-chain compounds being predominant. The Alz River and Gendorf chemical park emerge as hotspots with far-reaching effects downstream, contributing significantly to diffuse legacy contamination of PFOA and being a significant source of two industrial PFOA substitutes, ADONA and GenX. Wastewater treatment plants, old municipal landfills, and sites with a history of fire-fighting foam application are identified as key pathways or sources of legacy pollution, exhibiting higher concentrations compared to the other matrices. Notably, no significant removal is observed when comparing influent and effluent samples from conventional WWTPs. The study further demonstrates that groundwater is vulnerable to contamination from point sources and to infiltration from rivers, with bank filtration proving largely ineffective in preventing PFAS contamination.
ConclusionsThe study underscores the necessity for source and pathway control measures to mitigate PFAS pollution, the implementation of advanced treatment technologies to safeguard drinking water and surface water quality, and targeted remediation for legacy soil and groundwater contamination. Additionally, strong use regulations should be explored to minimize ongoing emissions. The multi-compartment monitoring proves to be a crucial approach to understand the complexity of PFAS distribution at the catchment scale. Comparative analysis and risk assessment highlight challenging situations for water management, offering an indispensable basis for emission modeling as a next step for quantitative assessment of the relevance of different sources and pathways for surface water pollution.
", "keywords": ["Emerging contaminants", "Emerging Pollutants", "PFAS", "Source identification", "Watershed management", "Environmental sciences", "Emission", "Water Framework Directive", "Environmental law", "Water pollution", "GE1-350", "K3581-3598", "Catchment monitoring", "Environmental Monitoring"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-025-01141-6"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Environmental%20Sciences%20Europe", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1186/s12302-025-01141-6", "name": "item", "description": "10.1186/s12302-025-01141-6", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1186/s12302-025-01141-6"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2025-06-15T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.5281/zenodo.15680931", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-08-24T16:20:41Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2025-06-15", "title": "Investigating the extent of PFAS contamination in the Upper Danube Basin across environmental compartments", "description": "Abstract BackgroundPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are emerging organic pollutants widely detected in environmental systems, posing risks to human health and the ecosystem. Despite increasing efforts to monitor PFAS in river systems, knowledge gaps remain regarding sources and emissions via different pathways. This study investigates PFAS contamination across multiple environmental compartments in the Upper Danube Basin, including surface water, groundwater, wastewater, landfill leachate, surface runoff, and atmospheric deposition. The primary objectives are to assess the extent of PFAS contamination, identify key emission sources and transport pathways, and evaluate associated risks in terms of the potential exceedance of current and proposed environmental regulatory thresholds in the European Union.
ResultsThe findings reveal a widespread presence of PFAS, with PFOA, PFOS and short-chain compounds being predominant. The Alz River and Gendorf chemical park emerge as hotspots with far-reaching effects downstream, contributing significantly to diffuse legacy contamination of PFOA and being a significant source of two industrial PFOA substitutes, ADONA and GenX. Wastewater treatment plants, old municipal landfills, and sites with a history of fire-fighting foam application are identified as key pathways or sources of legacy pollution, exhibiting higher concentrations compared to the other matrices. Notably, no significant removal is observed when comparing influent and effluent samples from conventional WWTPs. The study further demonstrates that groundwater is vulnerable to contamination from point sources and to infiltration from rivers, with bank filtration proving largely ineffective in preventing PFAS contamination.
ConclusionsThe study underscores the necessity for source and pathway control measures to mitigate PFAS pollution, the implementation of advanced treatment technologies to safeguard drinking water and surface water quality, and targeted remediation for legacy soil and groundwater contamination. Additionally, strong use regulations should be explored to minimize ongoing emissions. The multi-compartment monitoring proves to be a crucial approach to understand the complexity of PFAS distribution at the catchment scale. Comparative analysis and risk assessment highlight challenging situations for water management, offering an indispensable basis for emission modeling as a next step for quantitative assessment of the relevance of different sources and pathways for surface water pollution.
", "keywords": ["Emerging contaminants", "Emerging Pollutants", "PFAS", "Source identification", "Watershed management", "Environmental sciences", "Emission", "Water Framework Directive", "Environmental law", "Water pollution", "GE1-350", "K3581-3598", "Catchment monitoring", "Environmental Monitoring"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-025-01141-6.pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15680931"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Environmental%20Sciences%20Europe", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.5281/zenodo.15680931", "name": "item", "description": "10.5281/zenodo.15680931", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.5281/zenodo.15680931"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2025-06-15T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1007/s10357-022-4072-y", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-08-24T16:14:32Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2022-09-13", "title": "Rechtliche Einordnung von Gr\u00fcnbr\u00fccken bei Aus- und Neubauten sowie bestehenden Bundesfernstra\u00dfen", "description": "ZusammenfassungAngesichts der enormen Zerschneidungswirkung von Bundesfernstra\uffc3\uff9fen werden Gr\uffc3\uffbcnbr\uffc3\uffbccken in der Bundesrepublik vermehrt errichtet, sodass sich die Frage der rechtlichen Einordnung dieser bei Aus- und Neubau, aber auch bei bestehenden Bundesfernstra\uffc3\uff9fen stellt. Der Beitrag geht dabei auf ausgew\uffc3\uffa4hlte naturschutzrechtliche Instrumente ein, beleuchtet fachplanungsrechtliche Besonderheiten und stellt die Frage der (finanziellen) Verh\uffc3\uffa4ltnism\uffc3\uffa4\uffc3\uff9figkeit von Gr\uffc3\uffbcnbr\uffc3\uffbccken. Die global steigenden Treibhausgase ver\uffc3\uffa4ndern in zunehmenden Ma\uffc3\uff9fe auch in Deutschland die klimatischen Verh\uffc3\uffa4ltnisse. Betroffen sind insbesondere hiesige Agrarlandschaften, die weite Teile Deutschlands umfassen und schon gegenw\uffc3\uffa4rtig vielf\uffc3\uffa4ltige \uffc3\uffb6kologische Probleme aufweisen. Auch wenn die landwirtschaftlichen Nutzungen pr\uffc3\uffa4gend f\uffc3\uffbcr Agrarlandschaften sind, so h\uffc3\uffa4ngt ihre Zukunftsf\uffc3\uffa4higkeit nicht allein von einer Ver\uffc3\uffa4nderung der Bewirtschaftungsmethoden ab. Die Gestaltung zukunftsf\uffc3\uffa4higer Agrarlandschaften bedarf einer \uffc3\uffbcber den einzelnen Schlag hinausgehenden Betrachtung und ist eine gesamtgesellschaftliche Aufgabe, die deutlich \uffc3\uffbcber die Verantwortung und M\uffc3\uffb6glichkeiten der einzelnen Grundst\uffc3\uffbcckseigent\uffc3\uffbcmerInnen und -bewirtschafterInnen hinausreicht. Ausgehend von den bekannten \uffc3\uffb6kologischen Problemen und den im Beitrag ausf\uffc3\uffbchrlicher dargestellten besonderen Herausforderungen des Klimawandels untersuchen wir daher, was Zukunftsf\uffc3\uffa4higkeit bedeutet und welche gesellschaftlichen Ziele und Anforderungen sich hieraus f\uffc3\uffbcr Agrarlandschaften identifizieren lassen. Der Beitrag will damit eine Grundlage f\uffc3\uffbcr die Ausarbeitung praktischer Ma\uffc3\uff9fnahmenkonzepte und entsprechender staatlicher Lenkung und F\uffc3\uffb6rderung schaffen. Input data collection, quality assurance and preparation are central but time_consuming steps in environmental modeling. Errors due to manual processing of model input data can result in an incorrect representation of an environmental system and may consequently lead to implausible model simulations. Correct input data preparation and thorough quality check at an early stage of the model setup procedure are essential to build confidence in model simulation results. Typically, in environmental model applications, many steps in the input data preparation phase have to be repeated with the inflow of new, additional or corrected data. In this study, we selected the widely used SWAT\uffe2\uff80\uff89+\uffe2\uff80\uff89ecohydrological model as an illustrative example to investigate challenges related to input data preparation. To assist in these tasks, we developed an R package named SWATprepR, which provides functions for typical and repeating SWAT\uffe2\uff80\uff89+\uffe2\uff80\uff89model input data preparation tasks. The package supports the preparation of weather input files, atmospheric deposition, soil parameters, crop rotations, and observed (control or calibration) data, to name a few, presently with focus on European applications. The SWATprepR functions are integrated in R script workflows and can help SWAT\uffe2\uff80\uff89+\uffe2\uff80\uff89modelers to avoid repetitive tasks, secure reproducibility and transparently document the data processing steps. Application of the package is illustrated with a test case of a SWAT\uffe2\uff80\uff89+\uffe2\uff80\uff89model for a small catchment in central Poland.Tire wear particles (TWPs) produced by the abrasion between tires and road surfaces have been recognized as an emerging threat to soil health globally in recent years. They can be transported from the road surface to adjacent soil at different delivery rates, with precipitation a main driver underpinning this movement. However, studies typically assume an abrupt exposure of TWPs in their experimental design. In this study, we investigated the impacts of abrupt and gradual delivery of TWPs on soil physicochemical properties and microbial activities. We used two different delivery rates of TWPs (abrupt and gradual) and devised two experimental phases, namely the TWPs-delivery period (phase 1) and the end-of-delivery period (phase 2).
ResultsWe found that the gradual TWPs delivery treatments negatively influenced the activity of carbon cycle-related enzymes (\uffce\uffb2-glucosidase and \uffce\uffb2-D-1,4-cellobiosidase). Furthermore, the abrupt treatment highly increased the effects on nitrogen cycle-related enzyme activity (\uffce\uffb2-1,4-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase). In phase 2 (end-of-delivery period), each enzyme activity was returned to a similar level as the control group, and these changes between phases 1 and 2 depended on the prior delivery rates.
ConclusionAbruptly and gradually delivered TWPs induce different responses to soil microbial activities. Our findings imply that the delivery rate of TWPs could be a key factor changing the effects of TWPs, further enhancing our understanding of the ecological impacts of TWPs.
Graphical Abstract", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "570", "Microplastics", "Soil pH", "Soil respiration", "500 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik::570 Biowissenschaften; Biologie::570 Biowissenschaften; Biologie", "15. Life on land", "01 natural sciences", "6. Clean water", "Environmental sciences", "Environmental law", "Gradual exposure", "13. Climate action", "Enzyme activities", "GE1-350", "Abrupt exposure", "K3581-3598", "Soil aggregates", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-024-00918-5.pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-024-00918-5"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Environmental%20Sciences%20Europe", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1186/s12302-024-00918-5", "name": "item", "description": "10.1186/s12302-024-00918-5", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1186/s12302-024-00918-5"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2024-02-23T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.17169/refubium-43437", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-08-24T16:18:21Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2024-05-14", "title": "Delivery rate alters the effects of tire wear particles on soil microbial activities", "description": "Abstract BackgroundTire wear particles (TWPs) produced by the abrasion between tires and road surfaces have been recognized as an emerging threat to soil health globally in recent years. They can be transported from the road surface to adjacent soil at different delivery rates, with precipitation a main driver underpinning this movement. However, studies typically assume an abrupt exposure of TWPs in their experimental design. In this study, we investigated the impacts of abrupt and gradual delivery of TWPs on soil physicochemical properties and microbial activities. We used two different delivery rates of TWPs (abrupt and gradual) and devised two experimental phases, namely the TWPs-delivery period (phase 1) and the end-of-delivery period (phase 2).
ResultsWe found that the gradual TWPs delivery treatments negatively influenced the activity of carbon cycle-related enzymes (\uffce\uffb2-glucosidase and \uffce\uffb2-D-1,4-cellobiosidase). Furthermore, the abrupt treatment highly increased the effects on nitrogen cycle-related enzyme activity (\uffce\uffb2-1,4-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase). In phase 2 (end-of-delivery period), each enzyme activity was returned to a similar level as the control group, and these changes between phases 1 and 2 depended on the prior delivery rates.
ConclusionAbruptly and gradually delivered TWPs induce different responses to soil microbial activities. Our findings imply that the delivery rate of TWPs could be a key factor changing the effects of TWPs, further enhancing our understanding of the ecological impacts of TWPs.
Graphical Abstract", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "570", "Microplastics", "Soil pH", "Soil respiration", "500 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik::570 Biowissenschaften; Biologie::570 Biowissenschaften; Biologie", "15. Life on land", "Abrupt exposure ; Soil respiration ; Soil pH ; 25 Years SETAC GLB and 30 Years of GDCh ; Soil aggregates ; Research ; Microplastics ; Gradual exposure ; Enzyme activities", "01 natural sciences", "6. Clean water", "Environmental sciences", "Environmental law", "Gradual exposure", "13. Climate action", "Enzyme activities", "GE1-350", "Abrupt exposure", "K3581-3598", "Soil aggregates", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12302-024-00918-5.pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.17169/refubium-43437"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Environmental%20Sciences%20Europe", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.17169/refubium-43437", "name": "item", "description": "10.17169/refubium-43437", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.17169/refubium-43437"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2024-02-23T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.22028/d291-38804", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"license": "Open Access", "updated": "2026-08-24T16:18:51Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2022-09-13", "title": "Rechtliche Einordnung von Gr\u00fcnbr\u00fccken bei Aus- und Neubauten sowie bestehenden Bundesfernstra\u00dfen", "description": "ZusammenfassungAngesichts der enormen Zerschneidungswirkung von Bundesfernstra\uffc3\uff9fen werden Gr\uffc3\uffbcnbr\uffc3\uffbccken in der Bundesrepublik vermehrt errichtet, sodass sich die Frage der rechtlichen Einordnung dieser bei Aus- und Neubau, aber auch bei bestehenden Bundesfernstra\uffc3\uff9fen stellt. Der Beitrag geht dabei auf ausgew\uffc3\uffa4hlte naturschutzrechtliche Instrumente ein, beleuchtet fachplanungsrechtliche Besonderheiten und stellt die Frage der (finanziellen) Verh\uffc3\uffa4ltnism\uffc3\uffa4\uffc3\uff9figkeit von Gr\uffc3\uffbcnbr\uffc3\uffbccken.