SCOTLAND’s environmental regulator has published a new report detailing how dangerous chemicals have been found in waters across Scotland.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said it detected polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at 89% of surface water sites and at 57% of its ground water sites last year.
PFAS have been linked to certain types of cancer and are dubbed “forever chemicals” by Sepa, given some of them can take thousands of years to break down naturally.
Sepa said no samples exceeded relevant environmental or groundwater standards.
But the researchers concluded in the 2025 PFAS Water Quality Monitoring Report that further monitoring should continue this year, and that their monitoring network may potentially have to be expanded.
The data covers samples taken in 2025 from 97 surface water sites and 37 ground water sites.
The regulator found some of the highest concentrations of the persistent pollutants in burns downstream of Aberdeen Airport’s fire training ground, near RAF Lossiemouth, and close to major landfill sites on the outskirts of Glasgow and Aberdeen.
At Mains of Dyce Burn, just below Aberdeen Airport’s fire training area, repeated samples recorded some of the highest levels of the chemicals detected anywhere in Scotland’s rivers.
PFAS are found in firefighting foam, which is what led to waterways near fire training centres being tested.
Covesea Burn beside the airfield at Lossiemouth also showed elevated readings, while watercourses next to Summerston and Tarbothill landfills in the Glasgow area also featured among the worst‑hit locations in SEPA’s rankings.
Meanwhile, Pow Burn – which crosses right across the edge of Glasgow Prestwick Airport – was also on the list.
However, the highest concentration of a PFAS substance in surface water (620 ng/L) was in the Blairvault Burn, which flows into River Leven just south of Loch Lomond and near the village of Balloch.
Below are maps of groundwater and surface water sites that SEPA investigated.
To note, above MDL (Method Detection Limit) means the chemical was present at a level high enough for the lab’s method to detect and reliably measure it.
Professor Paul Dale, Sepa chief regulator, said: “PFAS are being detected more widely around the world and, given how extensively they have been used for decades, their presence in Scotland’s water environment is not unexpected.
“It is understandable that people have questions about PFAS and what these findings mean. This expanded monitoring programme gives us a clearer understanding of where PFAS are present across Scotland and helps identify where further investigation and future regulatory effort may be needed.
“Environmental monitoring helps us understand where substances are present in the environment, but monitoring data alone does not determine human health risk and should not be interpreted as evidence of direct impacts on human health.
“PFAS are a complex environmental challenge that will require long-term action across governments, regulators and industry.
“By continuing to strengthen the evidence base, we can ensure future decisions are informed by the best available science and targeted where they will have the greatest environmental benefit.”
A spokesperson for Aberdeen International Airport said: "We note SEPA's publication of its national PFAS monitoring report. The report is based on an initial Scotland-wide scoping study designed to improve understanding of PFAS in the water environment and support future monitoring and regulatory activity.
“We will continue to engage with SEPA and other relevant stakeholders as the regulator develops its understanding of PFAS across Scotland."
An RAF spokesperson said: “RAF Lossiemouth has seen and acknowledged the recent SEPA report on spot-testing for forever chemicals in areas around airfields in Scotland. Although elevated levels are shown around RAF Lossiemouth, there has been no breach of legislation, and the long-term trend shows these levels reducing. We will continue to cooperate fully with SEPA to ensure levels of forever chemicals are monitored and kept as low-level as possible.”
