Introduction
One of the pillars of our project was its co-construction with stakeholders, following an approach grounded in social and environmental responsibility. PFAS represents a major environmental and public health issue today, this is why addressing such a complex problem requires more than just a technical fix. We therefore engaged in a deep reflection on the real-world impact of our project by meeting with those directly or indirectly affected: journalists, environmental organizations, researchers, water treatment professionals, as well as citizens and people who are curious or concerned about the presence of these pollutants in their environment.
These conversations allowed us to better understand expectations, concerns and also the regulatory and ethical constraints surrounding the use of living organisms for pollution cleanup. The feedback we received helped guide key decisions in the design of our solution from biological safety to social acceptability and practical feasibility.
On our Human Practices page, we present how these integrated human practices shaped PFAway from its early concepts to its vision for real-world implementation.
Mindmap of HP actions
State of contamination
Invisible, persistent, and everywhere : PFAS pollution has quietly spread across the globe. Let’s take a closer look at just how far it’s gone.
These maps illustrate the extent of PFAS pollution across different regions of the world.
PFAS are now found almost everywhere in the environment, identified in all continents, in dozens of countries in the world. These "forever chemicals" can travel long distances through the air, water, and even living organisms, slowly building up in food chains. What makes them especially worrying is how long they last. For example, PFOS can stay in groundwater for over 40 years. Because PFAS are both very mobile and extremely persistent, they’ve spread across the planet, from cities to the most remote natural areas.
The data from the European map, particularly the measurement point located in Portet-sur-Garonne in France, just a few kilometers from our laboratory in Toulouse, show a concentration of 522 ng/L in PFOS/PFOA. To give context, this value is over 100 times higher than the latest European Drinking Water Directive limit for the total concentration of 20 PFAS, which is 100 ng/L. This shows that PFAS pollution is not just a distant problem, it’s happening right next door.
This measurement point was used as the basis for the initial simulations of our Model (see Model page) aiming at evaluating the effectiveness of our decontamination process at this location.
In the following section, we present several examples that illustrate just how widespread and global this contamination has become.
PFAS and Human Health: What Does Science Say?
After spreading through the environment, PFAS can build up in both humans and animals. This bioaccumulation is linked to a wide range of negative health effects, making their presence even more concerning.
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| PFAS are not only persistent in the environment but also in the human body. For example, PFOA can take over 2 years to be reduced by half in the body, PFOS about 5.5 years, PFHxS around 8.5 years, and PFDA up to 12 years. This means that even low-level chronic exposure results in significant long-term accumulation. |  |
One of the main ways humans are exposed to PFAS is through food. A European study found measurable concentrations of these substances in fish species such as carp, eel, perch, and sardines. Lower, yet still detectable, levels were also found in other food items like eggs, fruits, and vegetables
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Biomonitoring studies reveal that over
98%
of the global population now has detectable PFAS in their blood, a fact echoed by Andrew Patterson from Eurofins US, who stated: "I've been doing blood testing on PFAS since 2007, and I've never seen a non-detect. People say 98% have PFAS in their blood. I'm still looking for the 2% who do not."
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Scientific studies have shown that exposure to PFAS can have serious effects on human health, even at low levels. For example, in children, PFAS have been linked to a reduced response to vaccines. These substances can also affect metabolism by increasing levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and certain liver enzymes.
| Associated Diseases |
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PFAS can impact several important systems in the body :
• Hormonal system: PFAS can interfere with thyroid hormones, which are essential for metabolism and development.
• Immune system: Exposure has been linked to weaker immune responses and reduced vaccine effectiveness.
• Development: PFAS can cross the placenta and have been found in umbilical cord blood, meaning babies can be exposed before they are even born.
• Reproductive health: Studies have found associations with lower birth weights and reduced fertility.
• Cancer: People highly exposed to PFAS may have a higher risk of developing kidney or testicular cancer.
In the body, long-chain PFAS like PFOA and PFOS tend to accumulate in specific organs such as the liver and bones. If inhaled, they may concentrate more in the lungs and kidneys.
These findings highlight the urgent need to limit exposure to PFAS and better understand their long-term effects.
Integrated Human Practices
Throughout the development of our project, we aimed to ensure that our scientific choices were not made in isolation but in constant dialogue with society. Integrated Human Practices allowed us to consider the ethical, social and environmental dimensions of our work by engaging with stakeholders, experts and the general public.
From public surveys to expert interviews, each interaction helped us refine our approach, better understand the perceptions and concerns surrounding PFAS and synthetic biology and adapt our project accordingly.
This integration of external perspectives has been key to developing a responsible, relevant and socially conscious solution to the problem of PFAS pollution.
The following chart explains the reasoning behind the order of expert presentations in this page.
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Our initial step was to engage with experts who could provide insights allowing us to fully understand the magnitude and implications of PFAS pollution |
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As a second step, we sought guidance from experts in laboratory safety to ensure that our experimental work would be conducted under strict safety conditions, considering the high toxicity and persistence of PFAS compounds. |
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In the third step, we engaged with researchers to guide the design, planning, and execution of our experimental work to ensure scientific rigor and feasibility. |
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In the final step, we connected with industry professionals to support the design of our process and to refine the entrepreneurial strategy behind our project. |
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| Early discussions with a Le Monde journalist deeply engaged in the fight against PFAS helped us grasp the full scale of the issue and shaped our project from the start. | These experts supported us early in the project by helping us understand the PFAS issue from a scientific perspective. They provided us with a solid foundation of advanced knowledge and directed us to key scientific articles and reviews, some of which they had personally contributed to, allowing us to begin our work with a strong and well-informed scientific background. | |
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| These expert consultations helped us design our experiments with a strong focus on safety, particularly due to the hazardous nature of PFAS, ensuring that all handling and disposal protocols met high safety standards. | ||
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| His advice and experience were essential to carry out the modification of our strain. His expertise greatly supported the design of our genetic engineering strategy, particularly as we used two plasmids he had previously constructed (e.g pTarget and pCas) to attempt chromosomal integration in our strain. | These two experts supported us in designing our microfluidics experiments by providing valuable guidance on both methodology and setup. Their complementary perspectives, one bringing a broader overview of the field, and the other offering more specialized input, particularly in fluorescence microscopy, helped us refine our experimental approach and optimize our imaging. | |
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| This expert from ENVT discussed with us a method for measuring PFAS in liquid matrices and assisted us with some of our PFAS quantification tests. | This expert from Sapoval gave us invaluable guidance on treatment, coached us in entrepreneurship, and played a key role in helping us shape the deployment strategy for our solution. | This expert from YPHEN engaged in discussions about the bacterial encapsulation method using microbeads, providing valuable support for the practical application of our solution, specifically ensuring effective bioconfinement of our bacteria. |
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Communication
As part of our communication efforts, we actively worked to make our project accessible and visible to a broader audience. We participated in a radio interview with Radio Francas, where we introduced the key concepts of our work and discussed the importance of tackling PFAS pollution through synthetic biology.
Listen here
To reach our university community, we broadcasted visuals and information about our project on screens across campus buildings, raising awareness among students and staff. Our project was also featured in an article by La Dépêche, which helped extend our outreach beyond the academic sphere.
Additionally, we created a clear and engaging digital science booklet to explain our project in accessible terms. This booklet was shared widely on our social media networks and distributed in local high schools, supporting science education and fostering interest among younger audiences. These combined initiatives demonstrate our commitment to transparent, inclusive, and educational science communication aimed at increasing public understanding and involvement.
Inclusivity
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Education
As part of our commitment to inclusive science communication, we designed a wide range of educational initiatives aimed at raising awareness about PFAS pollution, synthetic biology, and sustainable innovation. Our public survey revealed that the general public is not sufficiently informed about the problems related to PFAS and often lacks basic scientific knowledge on these topics. This highlighted the importance of our efforts to make these issues more accessible and understandable through targeted outreach and education.
| Beyond our online presence, we took part in science outreach events such as Exposcience. On this occasion, we designed visual materials and made them interactive to introduce younger audiences to the fundamental concepts of biotechnology and microbiology. |  |
| We particularly emphasized the essential roles that certain bacteria play in the environment, food production, and human health, challenging the common misconception that all bacteria are harmful. | |
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To make these concepts more tangible, we invited participants to observe slides containing food-related bacteria under a light microscope. |
| This event also provided an opportunity to present the iGEM competition and our project to older visitors interested in the current challenges and potential of synthetic biology. |  |
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As part of our commitment to education and outreach, we engaged in several impactful science communication initiatives. We supervised a one-week internship for a high school student, presented our project during a summer school talk where we answered questions from curious young scientists and took part in the Sustainable Development Day at the University of Toulouse by contributing to a conference that highlighted how our project aligns with sustainability principles.
Additionally, we visited high schools to inspire the next generation of scientists, explain our project in an accessible way and provide them with key biological knowledge.
To raise awareness about the major environmental issue of PFAS from an early age, we created a children’s book designed to engage and educate young minds.
Our goal was to explain our project in a simple and accessible way, so even children can understand what we are doing. We believe that informing and educating the population must start as early as possible, because awareness and responsibility begin in childhood.
By introducing these concepts to kids, we hope to inspire the next generation to care about and protect our environment.
On social media, we produced educational videos and fun science facts (Short videos, digital support), all with English subtitles (or more languages) to reach international audiences. We even launched a Spotify podcast available in multiple languages
Through these efforts, we aimed to make science open, fun and inclusive for everyone-regardless of age, background or ability.
Social acceptability
As part of a responsible and collaborative approach with society, we conducted an anonymous survey of the general public to gather their opinions, expectations and concerns regarding our project.
We strongly believe that a bioremediation project can only be truly meaningful if it is developed in connection with citizens, taking into account their perceptions.
This survey allowed us to identify concerns related to PFAS, highlight areas of confusion or mistrust about the proposed solutions, and better understand the public’s expectations in terms of transparency and communication.
These insights guided the evolution of our project and helped us create tailored outreach materials, making our approach clearer, more reassuring and more accessible to a wider audience.
Notably, 21.8% of respondents had never heard of PFAS prior to our survey. While this means that the majority of the public is at least somewhat familiar with these substances, a significant portion still remains unaware of their existence and potential risks.
This underscores the need for increased outreach and education to raise awareness about PFAS-related pollution.
It also highlights the importance of clearly explaining what PFAS are, even to those who have heard of them, to ensure a more accurate and widespread understanding of the issue.
A majority of 59.8% of respondents said they would be in favor of using genetically modified bacteria to help clean up pollution.
This indicates a general openness to scientific innovation when it serves environmental goals.
However, it also emphasizes the need for transparent communication about the risks, benefits and mechanisms of such technologies. Clear and accessible explanations are essential to building public trust and ensuring responsible implementation.
This question raises a central ethical concern: the risk of enabling continued pollution. If effective treatment technologies are available, industries may feel less pressure to reduce or eliminate their use of PFAS. This feedback led us to critically reflect on the potential unintended consequences of our project.
As a result, we placed strong emphasis on prevention, substitution and responsible innovation, ensuring that remediation is not seen as a license to pollute but as part of a broader transition toward sustainability.
While the general public is aware of many types of pollution, pollution caused by PFAS does not immediately come to mind, highlighting the need for increased awareness about these substances.
For what reasons do you feel concerned or not concerned about invisible pollution?
Responses were sincere and often deeply personal. Many expressed concern for their health and the legacy left to future generations:
Some people are already trying to reduce their exposure by avoiding PFAS-containing products. But many feel powerless in the face of a global issue:
There’s a clear demand for political action, regulation and collective solutions.
Others pointed out how the invisibility of PFAS reduces awareness and urgency:
One comment captured the core of the issue and perfectly aligns with our mission:
These insights shaped our Human Practices strategy: communicate clearly, empower individual action and advocate for systemic change, because making the invisible visible is the first step toward action.
Sustainability
As an iGEM team, we believe that scientific innovation plays a crucial role in addressing some of the world's most pressing challenges. That’s why our project is thoughtfully aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a global blueprint for a more just, healthy, and sustainable future by 2030.
Our work tackles the growing environmental and public health threat posed by PFAS, a synthetic compounds that are widely used, highly persistent and notoriously difficult to remove from ecosystems. These pollutants accumulate in the environment and in living organisms, contaminating water sources, threatening biodiversity and posing serious risks to human health.
By combining synthetic biology, environmental responsibility, and public engagement, our project offers a tangible, scalable, and globally applicable solution.
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SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
We contribute to safer water sources by breaking down PFAS molecules at the source, preventing long-term contamination and protecting aquatic ecosystems. |
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SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
By reducing exposure to harmful PFAS, we help lower the risk of associated diseases such as cancer, immune dysfunction, and hormonal disruption. |
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SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Our solution promotes cleaner industrial practices by offering a sustainable, biological alternative to traditional PFAS management. |
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SDG 13: Climate Action
While not directly reducing greenhouse gases, our approach supports climate resilience by protecting ecosystems from persistent pollutants that disrupt natural balance. |
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To ensure our solution is both sustainable and competitive, we evaluated it alongside existing PFAS remediation methods such as incineration, activated carbon adsorption and chemical degradation.
This comparative analysis helped us better understand the environmental, economic, and practical advantages of our approach.
You can find the full comparison table and further insights on our Entrepreneurship page.
Through this integrated approach, we aim not only to solve a technical challenge, but to contribute meaningfully to global sustainability efforts.
By empowering synthetic biology with a sustainability-first mindset, we hope to inspire responsible innovation that serves both people and the planet.