Toxic PFAS chemicals halt cleanup of Swiss industrial site after 2020 fire
A major industrial site in Laufen, owned by the Basel-based Abendrot Foundation, remains contaminated years after a devastating fire in 2020. Toxic PFAS chemicals from firefighting foam have stalled cleanup efforts, leaving the area unusable and delaying reconstruction plans. The foundation now faces a long wait before any rebuilding can begin.
The 20,000-square-meter site, known as the Abendrot-Industriestandort, was severely damaged by a fire four years ago. Initially, the foundation promised tenants that reconstruction would take just two years. However, high levels of PFAS—persistent chemicals used in firefighting foam—were later found in the soil, with concentrations up to 25 times above legal limits.
The site’s future remains uncertain as legal and financial hurdles persist. Without a clear resolution on funding or remediation, the foundation and local authorities face years of further delays. The cleanup’s eventual completion will determine when reconstruction can finally move forward.
