Introduction
Today, PFAS represents a major environmental and public health issue. Addressing such a complex problem requires more than just a technical fix. One of the pillars of our project was its co-construction with stakeholders, following an approach grounded in social and environmental responsibility. We therefore engaged in a deep reflection on the real-world impact of our project by meeting with those directly or indirectly affected: journalists specialized in PFAS, 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 the broader regulatory and ethical constraints surrounding the use of living organisms for pollution clean-up. The feedback we received guided key decisions in the design of our solution, from biological safety to social acceptability and practical feasibility. We delve deeper into these reflections and decisions on our Human Practices page, which traces how these insights shaped PFAway from concept to implementation.
Solving an environmental issue can only happen through continuous dialogue with society.
Mindmap of HP actions
State of contamination
Invisible, persistent, and omnipresent, PFAS pollution has quietly spread across the globe.
But what is the real extent of the contamination? Found on every continent and in countries around the world, PFAS move easily through air, water, and living organisms, slowly accumulating in food chains. Their extreme persistence is what makes them particularly alarming: for instance, PFOS can remain in groundwater for over 40 years (Eschauzier et al., 2013).
Because of their mobility and resistance to degradation, PFAS have reached far beyond industrial sites or urban centers. They are now present even in the most remote natural environments.
The maps below reveal the widespread nature of PFAS pollution, helping us understand the urgency of addressing this global issue.
2) Global map of PFAS concentrations in surface and groundwater (Ackerman Grunfeld et al., 2024). Red areas exceed the European regulatory threshold (100 ng/L), highlighting the underestimated global scale of PFAS pollution (Nature Geoscience, 2024).
Use the arrows to move from one map to another.
The data from the European map, particularly the measurement point located in Portet-sur-Garonne, 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 demonstrates that PFAS pollution is not merely a distant issue, it is occurring all around us.
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.
For those who want to explore the topic further, the original sources of the maps are provided in the captions of the maps above.
We also recommend watching Dark Waters, a film based on real events that brought global attention to PFAS pollution, offering a compelling look at corporate accountability, environmental justice and the human cost of chemical contamination.
In the following section, we present several examples that highlight the widespread nature of this contamination.
Soil and water contamination
PFAS and human health: What does science say?
Following their release into the environment, PFAS can build up in living organisms, including humans, where they are associated with a wide spectrum of negative health impacts, making their presence even more alarming (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2021).
| Bioaccumulation in the Human Body | |
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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 and PFHxS around 8.5 years. This means that even low-level chronic exposure results in significant long-term accumulation (EFSA CONTAM Panel et al., 2020). |
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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. Other food items including eggs, fruits and vegetables were found to contain lower yet detectable levels.
Associated diseases
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Biomonitoring studies reveal that over
98%
of the global population now has detectable PFAS in their blood (EFSA CONTAM Panel et al., 2020), 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 don't." |
Scientific studies have shown that exposure to PFAS can have serious effects on human health, even at low levels.
| 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 (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2021).
• Immune system: Exposure has been linked to weaker immune responses and reduced vaccine effectiveness (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2021). In children, PFAS have been linked to a reduced response to vaccines.
• Development: PFAS can cross the placenta and have been found in umbilical cord blood, meaning babies can be exposed before they are even born (EFSA CONTAM Panel et al., 2020).
• 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 (Fenton et al., 2021).
• Metabolism: PFAS can increase the levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and certain liver enzymes (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2021; Fenton et al., 2021).
In the body, long-chain PFAS like PFOA and PFOS tend to accumulate in specific organs such as the liver and bones (EFSA CONTAM Panel et al., 2020). 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. By applying Integrated Human Practices, we were able to account for ethical, social, and environmental dimensions of our work by engaging with stakeholders.
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.
The list presented below explains the different categories in which we sorted our experts and we give concrete examples showcasing how their inputs contributed to shaping PFAway.
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| Early conversations with environmental journalists and researchers deeply involved in PFAS studies helped us grasp the scale and urgency of the issue. These exchanges shaped the direction of our project from the start, guiding our literature review and defining key objectives in line with real-world concerns. | ||
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| Discussions with a Le Monde journalist deeply engaged in the fight against PFAS helped us grasp the full scale of the issue, from its environmental and health consequences to its political and societal dimensions. Initially focused on degradation, our project evolved to include upstream prevention, guided by her insistence that “cutting the PFAS tap at the source” is the only effective long-term solution. This led us to develop a public engagement strategy through educational content and outreach events such as public talks. | A CNRS researcher and a Toxalim researcher 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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| Consultations with lab safety officers and toxicology experts ensured that our experimental work complied with strict safety standards. Their guidance led us to adapt handling protocols, implement appropriate containment measures for PFAS, and ensure safe waste disposal throughout the project (for more details see Safety page). | ||
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| These experts from Toulouse Biotechnology Institute (TBI) 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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| Our experimental design was refined through close collaboration with researchers in molecular biology and microfluidics. Their input influenced the choice of plasmids for chromosomal integration, optimized our genetic engineering strategy, and helped us validate droplet formation and analysis methods, ensuring technical feasibility and robustness (for more details, see Design page). | ||
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| This researcher from the TBI provided us with valuable advice and his experience was decisive for our manipulation. His expertise greatly contributed to the design of our genetic engineering strategy, in particular as we used two plasmids he had previously provided (e.g. pTarget and pCas) to attempt chromosomal integration into our strain. | Sandra and Sophie B. from TBI supported us in developing our microfluidics experiments. During the design phase, they informed us that the oil and surfactant used to produce emulsion droplets contained fluorine, which could interfere with our fluoride biosensor, FluorMango. This prompted us to test the response of our fluoride biosensor, FluorMango, to the presence of these compounds in microplate assays (see Best Measurement page). Meanwhile, Sandra collaborated with us during the microfluidics experiments, helping optimize droplet generation and stability. Additionally, Sophie L. assisted with fluorescence microscopy observations of the droplets. | |
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| Performing mass spectrometry measurements on our samples was not possible at our institute because of the toxicity of PFAS and lack of adequate infrastructure. This expert from ENVT told us that she already possessed the necessary equipment to analyze our samples for our PFAS degradation and adsorption tests, offering the expertise and resources we needed and we decided to send them our samples for analysis (Argoul et al., 2025). | ||
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| Experts in environmental engineering and biotech entrepreneurship helped us evaluate practical deployment strategies. Their feedback informed our decisions on bacterial encapsulation (e.g., using beads for biocontainment), methods for PFAS quantification, and the development of a viable business and intellectual property plan. For more details, go to the Entrepreneurship page. | ||
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| The founder of Sapoval gave us invaluable guidance on the water treatment field, coached us in entrepreneurship, and played a key role in helping us shape the deployment and financial strategy for our solution by helping us develop our business plan. | This expert from YPHEN engaged in discussions about the bacterial encapsulation method using beads. In the initial phase of the project, we were considering immobilizing purified enzymes on a solid support. Talking with Carmen directly influenced our decision to adopt beads as a safe delivery strategy. In addition to technical guidance, she also supported our entrepreneurial development by advising us on intellectual property and business strategy. | This philosophy professor provided us with valuable external feedback, helping us critically reflect on the ethical dimensions of our project. Through our discussion, he raised important questions about the societal implications, potential risks and responsibilities associated with our work (for more concrete examples, see ethics part). |
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.
We collected a total of 281 survey responses, but we focused on 266 complete and valid responses. In line with our commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, we also designed diagrams specifically adapted for readers with visual and cognitive differences, including color-blind-friendly features, to make our resources accessible to everyone.
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.
59.8% of interviewees 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 the risk of enabling continued pollution, 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?
The answers we received were rich, sincere and often deeply personal. They allowed us to understand how people perceive pollution that can't be seen, touched, or smelled, like PFAS.
Many respondents, especially women, expressed a strong concern for their own health and that of their children and future generations. The invisible and persistent nature of PFAS made the issue feel even more threatening. These insights helped guide our experiments.
This intergenerational concern showed us how crucial it is to emphasize long-term consequences, especially when the damage is silent but cumulative.
Some participants were already taking personal action, like avoiding PFAS-containing products, staying informed and adapting their habits. Others recognized the difficulty of doing so in a world where such substances are everywhere.
At the same time, many pointed out that individual efforts are not enough. They highlighted the need for political will, regulation and collective solutions to address the root causes of pollution.
Some respondents felt overwhelmed by the global scale of the problem. A few questioned the real impact of their actions, especially in the absence of clear political direction or large-scale mobilization.
Others pointed out that the invisibility of PFAS pollution makes it hard to grasp or prioritize in everyday life.
This highlighted a key challenge for us: how to make the invisible visible, not just scientifically, but emotionally and socially.
Among all the answers, one comment stood out for its clarity and depth. It beautifully captured both the urgency of the issue and the dual need for prevention and remediation:
This quote resonates strongly with our project’s mission: not only to eliminate existing PFAS, but to raise awareness and push for long-term change.
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 (a youth-oriented educational radio network in France), 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. Read here.
Additionally, we created a clear and engaging 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 (see this booklet in the education part). These combined initiatives demonstrate our commitment to transparent, inclusive, and educational science communication aimed at increasing public understanding and involvement.
Education
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. This is why , we designed a wide range of educational initiatives aimed at raising awareness about PFAS pollution, synthetic biology, and sustainable innovation.
| We took part in science outreach events such as Exposcience. On this occasion, we designed visual interactive materials to introduce younger audiences to the fundamental concepts of biotechnology and microbiology. |  |
| We particularly emphasized the essential roles of certain bacteria in the environment, food production, and human health, countering the widespread 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 us an opportunity to present the iGEM competition and our project to older visitors interested in the current challenges and potential of synthetic biology. |  |
As previously mentioned in the communication section, we developed educational support materials to engage viewers worldwide.
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.
Through these efforts, we aimed to make science open, fun and inclusive for everyone-regardless of age, background or ability.
Sustainability
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 compound that is 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 14: Life Below Water By removing toxic PFAS compounds from wastewater and groundwater, our solution helps prevent bioaccumulation in fish and other aquatic organisms, safeguarding marine biodiversity and food security. |
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SDG 15: Life on Land Our work also supports the restoration of terrestrial ecosystems by eliminating PFAS from irrigation water, limiting long-term damage to soils, plants, animals, and human livelihoods. |
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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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SDG 4: Quality Education We actively promote education and awareness around PFAS pollution and bioremediation. Our efforts include science outreach events, public talks, educational booklets for children and practical guides to help other iGEM teams develop their own bioremediation solutions. We also strive to make our content accessible to all, including people with disabilities such as hearing impairments or color blindness, ensuring inclusive education. Through these initiatives, we aim to inspire the next generation of scientists and highlight synthetic biology as a valuable tool for environmental protection. |
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SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy We prioritize energy-efficient and low-carbon processes by carefully selecting methods that require minimal energy and avoid CO₂ emissions. We also continuously optimize bead production and bacterial fermentation to reduce the overall environmental footprint of our solution (see our Entrepreneurship page). |
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SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth By developing a bio-based PFAS remediation strategy, our project contributes to the emergence of a new environmental biotechnology sector. It opens the door to skilled jobs, supports innovation-driven economic growth, and promotes a safe, inclusive and respectful working environment for all contributors (see our Entrepreneurship page). |
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SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure PFAway integrates biotechnology, bio-based materials and scalable engineering solutions to complement and enhance existing water treatment systems. Our approach supports the development of sustainable industrial infrastructure and strengthens innovation capacity in the field of environmental technologies (see our Entrepreneurship page). |
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SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals Collaboration is at the heart of PFAway. We work closely with industrial stakeholders, research institutions, and biotech partners such as YpHen to co-develop and refine our solution. These partnerships ensure that our approach is not only scientifically robust, but also scalable, applicable, and aligned with real-world needs for effective deployment (see our Entrepreneurship page). |
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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.
Ethics
Our team consulted with safety experts to discuss the handling of PFAS, and we carefully listened to and incorporated their advice to ensure safe practices throughout our project. For more details, please refer to the Safety page.
Rethinking Science in Its Social Context
"Science without conscience is nothing but the ruin of the soul."- François Rabelais
This quote has guided our project from the beginning. Working on bioremediation technology involving GMOs led us to question our role as scientists, the status of living organisms, and the boundaries we must not cross.
From the outset, we engaged in ethical discussions within the team. Opinions sometimes diverged, but these exchanges were essential to confront different perspectives.
"Who are we, we biologists? We're not trying to control life, but to guide it."
This sentence, shared during a discussion with an ethicist, was a turning point. It pushed us to challenge a common assumption in synthetic biology: that living systems are machines. For us, this is a metaphor, useful, but misleading if taken literally.
"Life is not a machine. Calling it that creates a biased perspective."
Working with living organisms means that we cannot control every detail of our creation, we can only orient life towards a goal that we set. It calls for clarity, humility, and caution.
"Failure is scientific evolution, it is knowledge."
Throughout the project, we’ve learned to embrace our limitations, uncertainties, and even failures. Sometimes we aimed too high. But that's part of progress: taking intellectual risks while remaining self-aware and responsible.
Between Social Demand and Scientific Responsibility
Our project addresses a real and urgent need: finding solutions to the persistent pollution caused by PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals.”
However, this societal demand is often accompanied by public distrust towards GMOs. This paradox reinforces the need for transparency, public engagement, and scientific contextualization, like discussed in social acceptability .
"Expressing science within its social context is, in itself, an ethical act."
Dual Use and Responsible Innovation
"Any scientific work can be misused. It’s smarter to prevent than to cure."
We recognize that the risk of misuse (dual use) of our technology, though rare, is real, such as enhancing antibioresistance for example. The best approach is to openly acknowledge this problem and work with society to find solutions, because talking about it raises awareness and helps prevent issues before they arise, prevention is better than cure.
This requires us to define strict usage conditions, such as confined deployment in bioreactors, rather than uncontrolled environmental release.
Scientists and Social Responsibility
One central question has guided our ethical reflection:
Do scientists have a social responsibility?
We believe they do. But that also means scientists must have the right to say no, to set boundaries, and to refuse unethical uses of their work.
"Scientists have the right to set limits."
As Vincent Grégoire-Delory reminded us, ethics is not just about following rules, it is a movement of freedom and responsibility.
In conclusion, we do not claim to have all the answers. And within our team, opinions sometimes differ. But we believe that raising these questions is part of our responsibility. Because while science can propose solutions, it is society, informed, critical, and aware, that must choose how to use them.
Supporting future iGEM teams
At iGEM, we believe that a project should not end with the competition. Sharing knowledge and supporting future teams is part of building a lasting, collaborative scientific community. That’s why we’ve created a dedicated resource space to help future iGEM teams, especially those interested in bioremediation.
ORep User's Guide - A bioBrick designed for you
We designed our ORep BioBrick with reusability in mind. This guide explains how to use, clone, and adapt our construct for your own projects. Our goal is to make your work easier, help you save time, and encourage continuous improvement of existing tools within the iGEM community (see our Contribution page).
Bioremediation Project Guide
Bioremediation projects in iGEM are rising in numbers, as they are powerful alternatives to conventional pollutant depollution methods. However, they raise not only scientific and technical challenges, but also ethical and regulatory questions. We’ve gathered practical advice to help you get started with:
• Key points to consider when building your project
• Practical tools to help you find the perfect depollution method
• Our advice based on our iGEM experience
• A table of all Bioremediation projects in iGEM for 2023 and 2024 grouped by targeted pollutant to facilitate your brainstormings
We hope that this guide will help you to design an impactful and responsible bioremediation project!
Protocol videos
To support future iGEM teams and engage the public, we shared several protocol videos on our TikTok account.
One example features a basic scientific procedure explained with a French voice-over, highlighting our commitment to accessibility and inclusivity.
We produced short videos that walk through fundamental lab protocols. These videos are intended to:
• Support teams with limited lab experience or resources
• Make synthetic biology more approachable for everyone
• Contribute to a more inclusive and open scientific culture within iGEM
Conclusion
With PFAway, we intended not only to respond to an environmental emergency, but also to understand what this pollution truly means for the people who face it every day.
Our Human Practices became a space for listening, questioning, and collective creation. We stepped out of the lab to challenge our ideas with real-world needs, citizens’ expectations, the limits of technology, and sometimes even our own assumptions.
This approach deeply shaped our project, giving it meaning, coherence, and human dimension. PFAway is the outcome of this journey: a solution we hope is useful, responsible, and a real source of hope.
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