Soil samples around US airfield

15 June 2021, Bavaria, Katterbach: Alexander Seitz, sampling technician of an environmental engineering office for the investigation of contaminated sites, takes soil samples on a field near the US military airbase Katterbach. Because of an elevated concentration of per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFAS) in the soil and groundwater at the US barracks, the samples are currently being taken. These are intended to provide conclusions about the direction of flow of the groundwater and the possible extent of contamination by chemicals - formerly abbreviated PFCs - which originate from firefighting foam formerly used by the US Army on the site. Photo: Daniel Karmann/dpa (Photo by Daniel Karmann/picture alliance via Getty Images)