Wildfires have become one of the main environmental risk factors in south-western Europe. Beyond biodiversity loss and socio-economic damage, these extreme events can promote the release and dispersion of highly persistent contaminants, such as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), through smoke, ash and post-fire run-off.
This phenomenon is particularly critical in wildland–urban interface areas, where the combustion of synthetic materials and the use of firefighting foams and retardants can reintroduce PFAS into the environment, affecting high-value ecosystems, water bodies and, ultimately, human health and the occupational health of emergency responders.
A workshop led by Medi XXI within ALERT-PFAS
In this context, the European project ALERT-PFAS is hosting the online workshop “PFAS, wildfires and territory: strategies for action in the face of an emerging challenge”, led by Medi XXI, with the support and active participation of the other project partners.
The workshop is aimed at environmental professionals, emergency services, public administration technicians and land-use managers, and seeks to shed light on a contamination pathway that is still rarely integrated into wildfire management, by combining scientific knowledge, practical tools and joint reflection.
Session objectives
The session will:
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Share the latest scientific advances on the presence, detection and behaviour of PFAS in post-fire contexts;
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Analyse their impacts on ecosystems, public health and, in particular, the occupational health of wildfire response teams;
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Foster dialogue on how to integrate PFAS into emergency planning and wildfire management, without shifting responsibility onto frontline responders.
Programme highlights
The workshop combines strategic perspectives with applied cases and decision-support tools:
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10:00 – 10:10 | Welcome and introduction
Ferran Dalmau Rovira -
10:10 – 10:45 | Transnational PFAS Strategy in the SUDOE Area
Ana B. Pereiro – Universidade Nova de Lisboa -
10:45 – 11:10 | PFAS risk-management tool: from data to decision-making
Albert Serra – CETAQUA -
11:10 – 11:35 | PFAS and wildfires: risks and mitigation strategies
Juan Picos – Universidade de Vigo -
11:35 – 11:45 | Conclusions and next steps
Ferran Dalmau Rovira · Ana B. Pereiro
ALERT-PFAS: European cooperation against an invisible threat
ALERT-PFAS is a European project funded by the Interreg SUDOE programme and led by the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of Universidade Nova de Lisboa. The consortium brings together 10 partners from Spain, Portugal and France with the aim of designing and implementing a transnational strategy to detect, prevent and mitigate PFAS contamination in natural areas of south-western Europe, with particular attention to sites recently affected by wildfires.
đź“… Practical information
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Date: 27 February 2026
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Time: 10:00–11:45 (CET)
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Format: Online workshop
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Registration and access: Registration form