University of Genoa launches paper‑based PFAS detection project

Researchers from the University of Genoa’s Laboratory of Nanostructures for Energy and Environment, together with AmSpec Italia and the national consortium Conou, presented a joint research programme to develop rapid, low‑cost paper analytical devices for in‑situ detection of per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The project targets field monitoring of these persistent “forever chemicals” in complex environmental and industrial samples, including oil matrices, where standard EPA‑approved laboratory methods are costly and cumbersome.

The collaboration, formalised under a framework agreement that created the AmSpec Academy, will design specific reagents and predictive models to improve speed and selectivity of analyses. Participants stress the need for fast preventive controls during hazardous waste collection, noting that PFAS pose a growing environmental and health risk.

The initiative aims to deliver portable screening tools that can be used directly on site, supporting stricter exposure limits being set by authorities such as the U.S. EPA.