Toxic PFAS chemicals force closure of Mainz daycare's outdoor play area
The outdoor play area at Mainz's Am Finther Wald daycare center has been shut down after soil tests revealed high levels of harmful chemicals. Parents were informed of the closure, which will stay in place until further testing is finished. Authorities suspect the contamination stems from firefighting foam once used on a nearby section of the former U.S. Army airfield.
Tests uncovered elevated concentrations of PFAS and significant amounts of PAHs in the sand play area. The Strukur- und Genehmigungsdirektion Süd (SGD Süd) is now leading on-site investigations to determine how deep and widespread the contamination is. Experts are also checking whether the current layer of clean soil covering the area is enough to prevent exposure.
The SGD Süd will release a final assessment in coordination with the State Office for the Environment and the Public Health Department. Similar cases have occurred near other former U.S. military sites in Germany, where firefighting foam containing PFAS was used between the 1950s and 2010s. Temporary closures of playgrounds and daycare centers due to PFAS contamination have taken place in recent years, including incidents in Kleinblittersdorf (2023), Trier (2024), and Landstuhl (2025).
The city of Mainz will update parents and the public once the final evaluation is ready. Until then, the daycare's outdoor area will remain closed. The findings will decide whether further measures are needed to address the contamination.
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