From discussion to practice: BalticPFASResolve at Stockholm Arlanda Airport (video)

On 28 September, around 50 BalticPFASResolve partners and stakeholders met at Stockholm Arlanda Airport for a full day of discussion, experience sharing and practical learning focused on PFAS challenges at airports.

The event was organised by the County Administrative Board of Stockholm in cooperation with Swedavia and with support of Turku University of Applied Sciences.

The day started with welcoming remarks from Riikka Vainio, Advisor in the Water and Environmental Protection Research Group at Turku University of Applied Sciences, followed by a project overview from project manager Bo Hjälmefjord (County Administrative Board of Stockholm).

We then heard from speakers bringing different perspectives on PFAS management at airports. Jessica Ewald, Environmental Officer at the County Administrative Board of Skåne, shared insights into the challenges and needs related to PFAS at civil airports in Sweden, while Melissa Goicoechea Feldtmann, Environmental Compliance Officer at the Swedish Defense Inspectorate for Environment and Health (Swedish Armed Forces), provided a broader overview of PFAS use and regulation, as well as compliance in the military context.

From Swedavia, environmental specialists Anders Sivertsson and Johan Nilsson presented Arlanda Airport’s experience with PFAS, including remediation strategies, protection of drinking water resources, firefighting foams and equipment cleaning, and the technical and organisational aspects of this work. We also heard from Morgan Tuvgren Fors, Quality and Environmental Manager at Växjö Småland Airport, who shared the perspective and challenges of a regional airport.

During the stakeholder workshop, participants exchanged experiences, discussed common needs and explored opportunities for stronger cooperation.

In the afternoon, we moved from discussion to practice. Swedavia representatives showed participants PFAS mitigation facilities and ongoing solutions at Arlanda Airport, including a groundwater remediation facility utilizing ion exchange resin and PFAS immobilisation in surface soil. Seeing these technologies on site and discussing their practical application directly with the people working with them was especially valuable.

The day highlighted the value of transnational cooperation and knowledge sharing on challenges of common concern. It also gave the participants a deeper understanding of the seriousness of PFAS contamination and the need to address affected airports and fire-training sites.

Watch the short video below for a glimpse into the workshop and study visit at Stockholm Arlanda Airport.

BalticPFASResolve is an Interreg Central Baltic Programme 2021-2027 project co-funded by the European Union. The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union.