Researchers from six Danish universities join forces to strengthen research into environmental pollutants

New findings about environmental pollutants periodically make the front pages of the country’s newspapers, with stories about substances such as PFAS, heavy metals, pesticides and microplastics accumulating in humans, animals and ecosystems. Through a new partnership, 12 researchers from six of the country’s universities will strengthen research and collaboration among Danish research communities in this field.

“We have become much better at screening for environmental pollutants, which means that we are finding more substances, but also that we can measure them at much lower concentrations. Research plays an important role here – both in maintaining a focus on the facts, so that we do not all become unnecessarily alarmed, and in investigating the unknown consequences that these substances may have for our health and the natural environment,” says Associate Professor Pedro Carvalho from the Department of Environmental Science at Aarhus University.

The partnership’s first initiative is a new national conference that will bring together researchers, authorities and businesses to share knowledge and put the issue of environmental pollutants higher on the national agenda.

“It is not a moment too soon for us to join forces on environmental pollutants. They affect us in many different ways, and by bringing together knowledge from the many different stakeholders, we can better prepare ourselves to address the major challenges posed by environmental pollutants – both now and in the future,” says Associate Professor Peter Roslev from the Department of Chemistry and Bioscience at Aalborg University.