EIA Environmental Analysis and Testing Working Group

PFAS Thresholds, Microplastics and the Southern Water Nurdles Incident

The EIA Environmental Analysis & Testing Working Group is delighted to welcome leading experts from the Environment Agency, Oracle Environmental Experts and SOCOTEC for what promises to be a highly informative and topical discussion covering PFAS regulation, microplastics, environmental monitoring and pollution incident response.

Featured Presentation

Developing Thresholds for Managing PFAS in the Water Environment

The session will open with an exclusive presentation from the Environment Agency on its recently published Chief Scientist’s Group report, Developing Thresholds for Managing PFAS in the Water Environment. The report establishes scientifically derived threshold values for PFAS in aquatic environments and proposes new approaches for assessing risks associated with some of the most widely detected and persistent PFAS compounds in UK waters. The research introduces a fish-based threshold of 77 ng/kg for the combined concentration of PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS and PFNA, alongside equivalent water concentrations and a Hazard Index approach for assessing cumulative risk.

This presentation will provide members with invaluable insight into how regulators are developing future approaches to PFAS assessment, compliance and risk management in the water environment. The report has been authored by Environment Agency researchers Emma Pemberton and Helen Wilkinson.

Speaker Biographies

Dr Emma Pemberton CChem FRSC

Lead Research Scientist, Water Research Chief Scientist’s Group, Environment Agency

Dr Emma Pemberton is a Lead Research Scientist within the Environment Agency’s Chief Scientist’s Group, specialising in water quality, emerging contaminants and environmental risk assessment. A Chartered Chemist and Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Emma leads and contributes to research programmes that support evidence-based environmental regulation and policy development.

Emma was lead author of the Environment Agency’s 2026 report Developing Thresholds for Managing PFAS in the Water Environment, which establishes scientifically derived threshold values for PFAS in aquatic systems and explores innovative approaches to assessing combined chemical risks. Her work focuses on translating complex scientific evidence into practical tools that support environmental protection, water quality management and regulatory decision-making.

Helen Wilkinson

Environment Agency

Helen Wilkinson is part of the Environment Agency’s Environment & Business Directorate and has extensive experience in water quality, environmental science and regulatory policy development. She co-authored the Chief Scientist’s Group report Developing Thresholds for Managing PFAS in the Water Environment and has been closely involved in the assessment of emerging contaminants and the development of risk-based approaches for managing PFAS within the aquatic environment. Helen works at the interface between environmental science and operational delivery, helping to ensure that regulatory decisions are informed by the latest scientific evidence.

Special Industry Case Study

The Southern Water Nurdles Release in Kent: Environmental Assessment, Response and Lessons Learned

Joining the Working Group will be environmental specialists from Oracle Environmental Experts to discuss the widely reported nurdles release associated with Southern Water in Kent. The session will examine the environmental implications of the incident, approaches to investigation and monitoring, risk assessment methodologies, clean-up considerations and the wider lessons for industry, regulators and environmental practitioners dealing with microplastic pollution events.

Dr Jon Burton BSc PhD FGS MCIWEM CSci MAE

Managing Director, Oracle Environmental Experts Ltd

Dr Jon Burton is Managing Director of Oracle Environmental Experts Ltd and one of the UK’s leading specialists in environmental forensics, contamination assessment, pollution incident investigation and expert witness services. A Chartered Scientist, Fellow of the Geological Society and Member of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, Jon has more than two decades of experience providing technical advice on complex pollution incidents, contaminated land challenges and environmental liabilities.

Jon regularly advises industry, insurers, regulators and legal teams on pollution source identification, environmental impact assessment and remediation strategies. He is recognised for combining scientific rigour with practical solutions to complex environmental problems and has been involved in numerous high-profile contamination and pollution investigations across the UK.

Josh Doran

Environmental Consultant, Oracle Environmental Experts Ltd

Josh Doran is an Environmental Consultant at Oracle Environmental Experts, specialising in environmental monitoring, pollution investigation, contaminated land assessment and environmental data interpretation. He supports technical teams on a broad range of projects involving water quality, plastics pollution, site investigations and environmental risk assessment.

Josh has been actively involved in environmental incident investigations and monitoring programmes and brings practical experience in the assessment of emerging pollutants and the development of evidence bases to support decision making for both public and private sector clients.

Standards Update

Microplastics Standards: BSI and ISO Developments

The meeting will also include an important industry update from:

Paul Walker

SOCOTEC UK

Paul Walker will provide members with an overview of the latest developments within BSI and ISO relating to microplastics monitoring, testing, characterisation and analytical methodologies. As regulatory scrutiny of microplastics continues to increase, understanding the evolving standards landscape is becoming increasingly important for laboratories, consultants, water companies, regulators and environmental practitioners.

The session will explore current standardisation activities, anticipated developments and the implications for environmental analysis and testing across the UK and internationally.

Why Attend?

This meeting brings together regulators, scientists, laboratories, consultants and environmental specialists to discuss three of the most significant challenges currently facing the sector:

• PFAS regulation and environmental thresholds
• Microplastics and nurdles pollution incidents
• Emerging BSI and ISO standards for testing and analysis
• Future regulatory and analytical requirements
• Practical implications for environmental monitoring and laboratories

For organisations involved in environmental analysis, testing, water quality, contaminated land, environmental monitoring and pollution management, this is a unique opportunity to hear directly from the scientists, practitioners and standards experts shaping future practice.