Facts and results from the ENSOr 3 symposium on PFAS and other CEC’s

ENSOr 3: increasing the level of knowledge on CEC’s

Nearly 175 participants from 13 different countries followed an interesting blend of lectures and presentations on policy, science and technology. Striking detail: the vast majority of participants described themselves as "junior" (less than 5 years of experience) when it comes to CEC’s. This undeniably demonstrates the importance of initiatives like Ensor.

Broadening the focus from PFAS to other CEC’s

Although PFAS remain indisputably important (because the concern about it still remains, but also because the experience gained with PFAS can serve as a blueprint for tackling other CEC’s), the aim of this third edition was to put the spotlights on a wider range of (diffuse) contaminants. Contributions on the presence of microplastics, on new research and analytical methods, recent policy support research and newly found (or fine-tuned existing) technical solutions ensured that this objective was more than met.

No future?

When asked for their opinion on how things have evolved since the first ENSOr symposium back in 2018, participants unanimously agreed there is a wider dissemination of the topic among consultants, policy makers and researchers worldwide. Additionally, the participant list shows there’s an increasing attention to the subject in non-Western European countries in particular.

With respect to the future, the conclusions of this year's symposium were in line with those of the 2 past editions: important steps have been taken but continuing on this path remains essential as the finish line has not been reached yet. “No future!” Sex Pistols shouted out back in the seventies, but it is clear there’s definitely still one for ENSOr.

Results of the third ENSOr symposium can be found on the ENSOr website.