INVEST p FASST - INVESTigating PFAS from Source to Sink

Project Team

Principal Investigator: Professor Fiona Regan

Research Team: Professor Stuart Harrad and Dr Yulong Ma (University of Birmingham), Christopher Newton (Arup Ireland)

Graduate students: Leila Bowe and Helen Burke

Project Communications: Clare Ankunda 

Project Duration

Four years 

Focus Area 

PFAS contamination in water and the environment

Approach

Environmental monitoring, advanced chemical analysis, risk assessment, and policy integration.

Aim

Support a national, evidence-based approach to managing PFAS in Ireland.

Funders

This project (2022-HE-1148, INVESTigating PFAS from Source to Sink- Assessing Risk to Inform a PFAS Strategy in Ireland) is funded under the EPA Research Programme 2021-2030, a Government of Ireland initiative funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. 

Overview

INVEST p FASST (INVESTigating PFAS from Source to Sink) is a four-year EPA-funded research projectfocused on understanding and addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in Ireland.

PFAS are highly persistent synthetic chemicals that pose risks to water quality, ecosystems, and human health. The project aims to identify PFAS sources, pathways, and environmental risks, providing evidence to support effective regulation, risk management, and policy development.

Recent Activity 

On 12 December 2025, the INVEST pFASST project hosted a PFAS stakeholder workshop at Dublin City University, bringing together researchers, regulators, and industry experts. The workshop examined PFAS sources, monitoring challenges, regulatory developments, and emerging risks in the Irish context. Speakers included members of the project’s research and technical team, ensuring direct alignment between workshop discussions and project objectives. Workshop presentations are available on request.

Key Insight

Emerging PFAS compounds require proactive monitoring and updated regulatory approaches.

Workshop findings highlighted the increasing prevalence of short- and ultra-short-chain PFAS, which are highly mobile, persistent, and difficult to remove using conventional water treatment technologies.

Project Updates

invest-pfasst-newsletter-issue-1-jan-2026_0.pdf

Contact

Clare Ankunda
DCU Water Institute
Dublin City University
Email: waterinstitute@dcu.ie