On Thursday, June 12, the Vicente Álvarez Cultural Center in Rioseco (Asturias) will host a regional technical workshop organized by the Principality of Asturias, as part of the Interreg SUDOE ALERT-PFAS project. The main objective of the event is to raise awareness and provide training on the risks of PFAS contamination (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in natural ecosystems, particularly in areas affected by wildfires.
The workshop will focus on presenting the project’s objectives and preliminary results, while also offering a space for dialogue with participants and a field visit to key sites from the Asturias case study, including the Rioseco water treatment plant.
Key topics will include wildfire management and the use of PFAS-based foams, detection and mapping of PFAS in the SUDOE region (Spain, France and Portugal), and the development of a digital risk assessment tool.
The event is aimed at water managers, from both public administrations and private operators, who are interested in understanding the risks associated with emerging contaminants. It also targets natural park managers facing conservation challenges in wildfire-affected areas.
Participation is also open to fire and emergency response services, key actors in the application of PFAS-containing firefighting foams. Finally, research groups and public administration representatives are invited to attend and benefit from the technical knowledge produced by the project.
Agenda: ALERT-PFAS_Agenda_Asturias_VI
Venue: Vicente Álvarez Cultural Center, Rioseco (Asturias)
Date: Thursday, June 12, 2025
Registration: https://forms.gle/HWBdQrgX1JnEW4Qp9
ABOUT THE ALERT-PFAS PROJECT
ALERT-PFAS is a European project funded by the Interreg SUDOE programme and coordinated by the Faculty of Science and Technology of NOVA University Lisbon. Its main goal is to design and implement a transnational strategy to detect, prevent and mitigate PFAS contamination in natural areas across Southwestern Europe.
The project consortium includes 10 partners from Spain, Portugal and France, including universities, technology centers, public authorities, foundations specializing in knowledge transfer, and emergency services, with the support of 12 associated partners. ALERT-PFAS has a total budget of €1,845,945, 75% co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The initiative addresses the risks that PFAS pose to human health, biodiversity, and ecosystems, by developing innovative technological tools for real-time detection. It focuses especially on natural areas recently affected by wildfires, such as those in Asturias.
