PFAS – from research to the courtroom
23 October 2026 13:15 – 14:00 Hörsal M, Örebro University
Photo: Emil Fagander
What do we know about PFAS, the so-called forever chemicals – and what happens when research becomes a matter for the courts? Join us for a seminar with toxicologist Mattias Öberg on how society manages chemical risks and how researchers can contribute their knowledge.
Mattias Öberg is a toxicologist and an associate professor at Karolinska Institutet. He studies how chemicals affect our health, with a particular focus on PFAS. He has served as an expert witness in court and is active in the public debate on chemical risks.
In his book Ingen anledning till oro (“No Cause for Concern”), he tells the story of a local legal case in the small town of Kallinge that goes all the way to the Swedish Supreme Court – and a researcher’s efforts to uncover the truth about PFAS and the biggest toxic contamination scandal of our time.
In the seminar, he explores themes from the book and reflects on how society identifies, communicates and manages chemical risks. Drawing on his research and his experience as an expert witness, he discusses how scientific understanding of PFAS has evolved, how scientific uncertainty is handled, and what happens when toxicological knowledge enters the courtroom and the public debate.
The seminar will be held in English and is part of the seminar series organised by the Man–Technology–Environment research centre (MTM).