Webinar: Transitioning from PFAS firefighting foams to safer alternatives – experiences from Katrineholm
About the webinar
Firefighting foams containing high concentration of PFAS substances are causing serious environmental and health risks. For the rescue services and fire fighters around the Baltic Sea, the Baltic PFAS Resolve project provides information on safer alternatives, tests for existing firefighting foams, and taking on PFAS-containing foams for destruction. By working together, we are working towards cleaner Baltic Sea and can stop PFAS before they reach the sea.
In this webinar, you will hear how the City of Katrineholm´s (Sweden) rescue services have handled PFAS issue in practice – moving from a problem to solutions.
For decades, PFAS containing firefighting foams have been a major source of environmental pollution globally. While some PFAS used in foams have been previously regulated, foams containing other PFAS have still been widely used. Due to new EU legislation restricting PFAS in firefighting foams to protect health and environment, foam users need to transition soon into PFAS-free alternatives.
In this webinar, Västra Sörmlands Rescue Service from Sweden will talk about their experience with the journey to PFAS free alternatives and share some of the knowledge they acquired during the way.
PFAS issues with firefighting foams in Katrineholm, Sweden, were noticed in 2014 when banned substances escaped to the environment in a sensitive location for groundwater after the Rescue Service used firefighting foams to extinguish a vehicle fire. Since then, through close cooperation with the municipality’s environmental department, the Rescue Service has made a journey to PFAS free alternatives.
Event Details
Date: 12.5.2026
Time: 9-10 CET and 10-11 EET
Place: Zoom
To get the link to the webinar, please register by 10.5.2026
Programme
Times CET / EET
9.00 / 10.00
Welcoming words and presenting the Baltic PFAS Resolve project
Riikka Vainio, Advisor in Sustainable Environment Engineering, Turku University of Applied Sciences, Finland
9.05 / 10.05
What are PFAS and why you need to know about them
Kamila Gruskevica, Senior Researcher, Riga Technical University, Latvia
9.15 / 10.15
Current legislation regarding PFAS fire-fighting foams
Patrik Johansson, Environmental Inspector, City of Katrineholm, Sweden
9.25 / 10.25
Katrineholm rescue department’s PFAS journey – from a from problem to solutions
Marcus Asplund, Head of the Prevention Section,Västra Sörmlands Rescue Department, Sweden
Filip Lindvall, Fire Protection Engineer, Västra Sörmlands Rescue Department, Sweden
9.50 / 10.50
Time for discussion & questions
10.00 / 11.00
End of the webinar
