INVEST pFASST: Project Newsletter Issue 1 - PFAS Research and Policy Insights from Ireland
January 2026 | DCU Water Institute
The DCU Water Institute is pleased to publish the first project newsletter from INVEST pFASST (INVESTigating PFAS from Source to Sink), a four-year EPA-funded research project 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. INVEST pFASST aims to identify PFAS sources, environmental pathways, and associated risks, generating robust evidence to support effective regulation, risk management, and policy development at national level.
Highlights from this issue
This inaugural newsletter provides an overview of recent project activity and emerging insights, including:
- Key outcomes from a PFAS stakeholder workshop hosted at Dublin City University, bringing together researchers, regulators, and industry experts
- Discussion of emerging short- and ultra-short-chain PFAS compounds and their implications for monitoring and regulation
- An outline of the project’s next steps, including ongoing environmental assessment and integration with regulatory and policy frameworks
The newsletter also introduces the INVEST pFASST research team and outlines the project’s interdisciplinary approach, combining environmental monitoring, advanced chemical analysis, risk assessment, and policy integration.
About INVEST pFASST
INVEST pFASST (2022-HE-1148) is funded under the EPA Research Programme 2021–2030, a Government of Ireland initiative supported by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. The project supports Ireland’s efforts to strengthen evidence-based approaches to PFAS regulation and environmental protection and is hosted by Dublin City University through the DCU Water Institute.
📄 Download the full newsletter (PDF)
invest-pfasst-newsletter-issue-1-jan-2026.pdf
For further information about the project, please contact:
DCU Water Institute
Dublin City University
📧 waterinstitute@dcu.ie