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Water Quality and Health

PFAS in drinking water supplies: A review of source, pathway, and fate for selected compounds

This CREW call down project is a follow-on from the CREW project Developing risk assessment approaches for PFAS and watch list parameters under the recast Drinking Water Directive – PFAS, 17ß-estradiol, nonylphenol” (Vorstius et al., 2024) with a particular focus on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). 

PFAS are a large group of synthetic chemicals with many industrial and domestic applications. In Scotland, a drinking water standard o

Emerging Contaminants: Informing Scotland’s strategic monitoring and policy approaches on substances of increasing concern

The aim of this project was to inform, prioritise, and coordinate actionable monitoring and policy-based approaches to identify, assess, and mitigate risks from substances of increasing concern to Scotland’s water environment. Contaminants of increasing concern (CICs) comprise a diverse range of substances and organisms, including chemical groups such as pharmaceuticals and pesticides; biological contaminants such as pathogens and antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) genes; nanomaterials; and microplastics.

Navigating the Depths: Monitoring Scottish Freshwater Fish Populations

Scotland’s freshwater lochs are complex ecosystems teeming with life. They are home to an array of fish species, which are crucial to the ecological health of these habitats. Effectively monitoring these fish populations in such vast water bodies poses a challenge that requires innovative solutions and effective collaboration. As pressures from human activities such as large-scale hydro-electric developments mount, the monitoring, understanding and safeguarding of Scotland’s freshwater fish is increasingly important.

Developing risk assessment approaches for PFAS and watch list parameters under the recast Drinking Water Directive

The research project conducted assessments of the potential presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), 17β-estradiol, and nonylphenol for drinking water supply sources in Scotland, to identify high risk areas and enable prioritisation of monitoring and additional knowledge generation.