PFAS in Ny-Ålesund	10 July 2025
Over the past week, we have collected samples of water, foam, and biological material (invertebrates) to measure PFAS. A large portion of the PFAS found in Ny-Ålesund can be traced back to a major diesel spill in the mid-1980s. At the time, the diesel was covered with PFOS-containing firefighting foam, which subsequently spread throughout much of the village. In addition, we are also detecting other PFAS compounds that are more difficult to explain. We are now trying to understand how PFAS spreads through the ecosystem in and around Ny-Ålesund. Foam on the small lakes appears to be a significant concentrator of PFAS and is therefore receiving special attention. The invertebrates in which we are measuring PFAS include Daphnia, Lepidurus arcticus (freshwater), and Gammarus (seawater).

Text and pictures by Frits Steenhuisen

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