PFAS contamination in Odsherred Municipality wider than initially thought

A new study reveals that PFAS contamination from a former fire training site in Nørre Asmindrup has spread further than first believed, raising concerns among local residents and authorities, DR reports.

The pollution, originating from the site north of Vig, has dispersed through drainage systems and the upper groundwater layer. Erik Larsen, who owns a 10-hectare hobby farm in the affected area, fears his land may be declared contaminated, making it unsellable.

“I’m worried that if my land is declared contaminated, neither I nor any future buyer can use it. That means I can’t sell, and I’d be stuck here,” Larsen said. He added that the uncertainty is distressing, as he had hoped to move on but now faces an unclear timeline.

“No one will buy the property once it’s declared contaminated,” he said.

The Danish Environmental Protection Agency considers PFAS substances problematic due to their persistence. Well-studied PFAS compounds are linked to liver and immune system effects, lower birth weight, fertility issues, and potential harm to unborn children. They are also suspected of being endocrine disruptors and carcinogenic.

Boie Frederiksen, head of the Business, Technology, and Environment Centre in Odsherred Municipality, confirmed that while there is no sign of contamination in the primary groundwater used for drinking, the discovery remains serious. The municipality is currently mapping the extent of the pollution and working to limit its spread.

“Right now, we’re treating surface water from the fire training site, where PFAS levels remain high. When it rains, water runs over asphalt and grass areas, carrying PFAS with it,” Frederiksen said.

The municipality has also taken samples from animals that grazed in the area and is analyzing grass from contaminated zones. Initially, officials had hoped to contain the cleanup to the former fire training site, but the contamination has spread with water flow.

“PFAS tends to bind to soil but can still be transported by water. This means it keeps moving around,” Frederiksen explained.

Cleanup costs could be substantial. A document for an upcoming meeting of the Climate, Technology, and Environment Committee estimates that removing 10,000 cubic meters of contaminated soil would cost 47 million kroner. The total volume of contaminated soil is believed to be larger, and the municipality would initially bear the expense.

Odsherred Mayor Hanne Pigonska (Venstre) expressed concern over funding, stating, “We don’t yet know the full cost.” The municipality has contacted the Ministry of the Environment, proposing that special state funds be allocated for severe PFAS contamination cases.

Pigonska acknowledged residents’ concerns, noting that the municipality is still awaiting guidance from the Environmental Protection Agency on cleanup requirements. “I understand the worry because we don’t know enough yet. We’re in a very early stage and haven’t finished investigating everything,” she said.

The issue will be discussed at a meeting of the Climate, Technology, and Environment Committee on June 16.