PFAS: About PFAS at Schiphol
It is found in non-stick pans, clothing, paint, food packaging, cosmetics and pesticides. The use of these products has led to Poly- and PerfluoroAlkyl Substances (PFAS) in the soil throughout the Netherlands. In the 1960s, this invention was hailed for its resistance to water, grease and oil. In the meantime, we are learning more and more about the downsides. PFAS can be harmful to the environment and health. Because PFAS is also found in the soil at Schiphol, we are taking a variety measures.
How PFAS ended up in the soil at Schiphol
Schiphol is not a producer of PFAS. The PFAS in the soil at Schiphol is mainly due to PFAS-containing firefighting foam that the fire brigade used in the past. This extinguishing foam proved to be very suitable for extinguishing liquid fires and became the standard for fire departments around the world. From 1985, it was prescribed at airports for liquid fires. Due to the superior extinguishing effect, the fire brigade was able to extinguish an aircraft fire in no time. We no longer use PFAS-containing firefighting foam at Schiphol. It has not been used for exercises since the 1990s, and immediately after the rules were changed in 2020, it has not been used for incidents either.
Where is PFAS found in the soil at Schiphol?
PFAS at Schiphol is primarily a legacy of the past. A legacy that you don't want, but that we handle with care. Since the end of 2016, we have been investigating whether PFAS is present in the soil as standard during excavation work. And we regularly dig at Schiphol because of construction and maintenance projects. If the level of PFAS is above the standard, we draw up a risk assessment. That means we assess risks to humans and the environment, and risk of spreading. The government has drawn up rules for this that we adhere to. If there are no risks, remediation is often not necessary, because the soil does not pose a health risk. However, we always make a plan when working in contaminated soil. In this way, we ensure that work is always done safely and that the soil is handled responsibly.
What measures do we take if we find PFAS?
PFAS at Schiphol is primarily a legacy of the past. A legacy that you don't want, but that we handle with care. Since the end of 2016, we have been investigating whether PFAS is present in the soil as standard during excavation work. And we regularly dig at Schiphol because of construction and maintenance projects. If the level of PFAS is above the standard, we draw up a risk assessment. That means we assess risks to humans and the environment, and risk of spreading. The government has drawn up rules for this that we adhere to. If there are no risks, remediation is often not necessary, because the soil does not pose a health risk. However, we always make a plan when working in contaminated soil. In this way, we ensure that work is always done safely and that the soil is handled responsibly.
When do we store PFAS-containing soil?
If there is residual soil after a (construction) project at Schiphol, we use a standard protocol to determine the quality of the soil. We then look for a suitable location where the soil can be reused. If the soil contains too much PFAS, the soil cannot be reused. In recent years, we have stored soil containing PFAS in temporary storage facilities at Schiphol.
What measures do we take when storing soil containing PFAS?
For the storage of soil containing PFAS, we have coordinated a package of measures and facilities with the Environment Agency. When the level of PFAS is too high, the soil is covered with special foil at the bottom and at the top. This way, weather conditions have no impact on it. The foil is sometimes additionally covered with clean soil. This clean soil protects the foil against tearing (due to strong winds, for example) and keeps the foil in place. In this way, we ensure that the storage of the soil does not cause new contaminants or pose a risk to the environment.
How do we monitor our storing facilities?
Schiphol has a manager who visits the storage facilities on a daily basis and who sends us the checklist of his inspection rounds every week. Any damage, for example after a storm, is therefore repaired as quickly as possible. This is all laid down in a management plan, which is supervised by the Environment Agency.
What to do with PFAS-containing soil?
Part of the PFAS-containing soil at the storage sites can be made suitable for limited reuse in large-scale soil applications, such as a noise barrier. However, we are currently unable to make most of the PFAS-containing soil on our storage facilities suitable for reuse. The only alternative is to take it to an approved processor for disposal. But we would much rather look for a sustainable solution for now and for the future, one that is in line with our goal of becoming a waste-free airport. We have found that solution in a soil remediation facility that allows us to reuse the soil at Schiphol.