Swiss Tech โคFirm Offers Rapid PFAS Detection, But โWarns of Broader โคCrisis
Zurich, Switzerland – A Swiss start-up, recently honored with the Swiss Technology Prize, has developed a method for โthe rapid identification and monitoring ofโ PFAS – so-called “foreverโ chemicals” – in โwater sources. The technology allows for swiftโฃ determination ofโ the โฃspecific PFAS compounds presentโข and verifies their removal during water treatment processes, offering a potential breakthrough forโฃ industrial water โคmanagement.
PFAS, or โคper- and polyfluoroalkylโฃ substances, are a group of man-made chemicalsโ used in countless products, from non-stick cookware toโข firefighting foam.Their persistenceโ in the habitat andโฃ potential health risks โฃ- including links to cancer andโ immune deficiencies โค- haveโ sparked growing global concern and regulatory scrutiny. The new technology addresses a critical need for efficient and accurate PFASโ monitoring, a challenge that has previously hindered effective remediation efforts.
According โขto the start-up,the method is scalable for large-scale applications,such as treating industrial wastewater.However, experts cautionโ that โฃtechnological solutions alone won’tโฃ solve the widespread โPFAS contamination problem.
“There is no miracle solution to the global PFAS crisis,” โขstates the director of Oxyle, the company behind the technology. “A combinedโข approach is essential: on the one hand, abandon the production of PFAS which we can do without, and on the other hand, treatโฃ existing PFAS where their concentration is highest, that is to โขsay as closeโ as possible to the source, where industries discharge their water.”
The โฃcompany emphasizes that tackling the PFAS crisis requires both preventative measures – phasingโ out unnecessary PFAS production – and targeted remediation efforts at pollution sources.
Original article: Saul Toppi (RSI)
French adaptation: Julien Furrer (RTS)
