Exploring Transformations of Fluorinated Contaminants with Associated Health Risks to Safeguard Drinking Water

Objective

Safe drinking water is essential for public health in Europe, yet its quality is increasingly challenged by emerging contaminants. Of greatest concern are persistent and bioaccumulative fluorinated compounds, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Despite widespread detection, these compounds form largely unknown transformation products (TPs) during chlorination, a common disinfection method in the UK and EU, through poorly understood processes with uncertain health impacts. This lack of knowledge hinders effective regulation and undermines public confidence in water safety. Project FluoroTrack will address these gaps by (1) determining drivers of chlorination-induced transformations, identifying and quantifying unknown TPs via predictive model-assisted non-target screening workflows and elucidating transformation mechanisms for high-risk fluorinated compounds; (2) applying these workflows to quantitatively evaluate unknown TPs in real drinking water samples collected by researchers and community volunteers; and (3) performing population-specific risk assessments to estimate exposures to parent compounds and TPs through daily water consumption. By combining predictive mass spectrometry analytics with real-world monitoring, this project will enable risk-based prioritisation of health-relevant fluorinated compounds. It will generate critical insights into chlorination-induced transformations and TP formation, and deliver predictive tools for risk management, regulatory monitoring and treatment optimisation. Outcomes will ultimately support updates to the EU Drinking Water Directive and the ambitions of the European Green Deal. The project will also provide advanced training for a talented postdoctoral researcher in analytical chemistry, exposure science, risk assessment, and professional development, building future leadership expertise to tackle emerging environmental challenges.