Grand Canal, Venice Venice, Italy

PURIFAS is an early-stage water-tech venture building a detection and compliance solution for companies, laboratories, public authorities, and communities exposed to the health crisis caused by PFAS - toxic forever chemicals that have been used globally in various industries for decades.

In recent years, the EU classified PFAS as a Substance of Very High Concern and introduced new regulation to limit further exposure, with other countries following suit. Founded in the Veneto region, PURIFAS is a multi-disciplinary team working closely with Professor Sara Bogialli, a PFAS expert at the University of Padova.

LC
Chief Executive Officer

Leslie Sofia Castillo

MSc in Management for Sustainable Firms

EA
Regulatory & Compliance Officer

Eric Arena

BSc in Environmental Science

MM
Financial Officer

Marco Gaggiato Merotti

HH
External Advisor

Hassan Halmetwaly

DO
Product Officer

Daniel Olandi

MSc in Industrial Biotechnology

Aline Kruger Scientific Officer

Aline Kruger

MSc in Materials Science

Vishesh Goyal Technology Officer

Vishesh Goyal

MSc in Artificial Intelligence

AR
Software Officer

Alia Rizwan

ST
Legal Officer

Silvia Tanzi

EZ
Marketing Officer

Eleonora Zanon

BSc in Psychology

IS
Social Media Officer

Irina Shlegel

Our Progress

Where we stand.

What we have built

  • Interactive PFAS contamination map for Italy and Europe, aggregating data from 14+ public scientific datasets into a single searchable interface
  • EU regulatory timeline tracker covering the 2025-2026 implementation milestones that matter for public health
  • Community stories platform giving affected individuals across contaminated regions a place to speak
  • Health impact estimates at the local level: life-expectancy data and risk bands tied to specific geographic cells

What is next

  • National water system integration: connecting municipal drinking water data directly to the contamination map
  • Community health tracking tools for residents living near documented contamination sites
  • Policy advocacy resources empowering affected communities to engage regulators and elected officials
  • Partnerships with investigative journalists and environmental NGOs for coordinated public disclosure