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‘Forever chemicals’ widespread in European waters

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Forever Chemicals Widespread in European Waters

Contamination Exceeds Regulatory Thresholds

The European Environment Agency (EEA) has warned that contamination of so-called "forever chemicals" in European waters often exceeds regulatory thresholds set to reduce potential risks to human health and the environment.

Widespread Presence of PFOS

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), which was banned in 2019, was found "throughout European waters." According to Nadia Cerioli, an expert with EEA, "We have a problem with PFOS which is both persistent and widespread."

Data Analysis

Between 2018 and 2022, depending on the sites for which data are available, 51 to 60% of rivers, 11 to 35% of lakes, and 47 to 100% of coastal waters exceeded environmental quality standards for PFOS, according to the report Cerioli co-authored.

Variation Across Countries

In 2022, 14 countries reported data on the concentration of pollutants in surface waters. In Belgium, France, and Iceland, 100% of reported water bodies had levels exceeding quality standards, while five countries (Spain, Ireland, Poland, Croatia, and Estonia) reported levels exceeding the threshold in less than 20% of sites. In three countries, Bulgaria, Latvia, and Montenegro, no sites recorded levels exceeding guidelines.

Need for Increased Monitoring

Magnus Lofsted, another co-author of the report, lamented a lack of knowledge on the occurrence of the chemicals, stating, "We still need more monitoring data to map the contamination and to get a more complete picture of where you find PFOS hotspots." He also emphasized the need for increased monitoring efforts for PFAS using methods that have a sufficient sensitivity to detect the substances at very low levels.

Conclusion

The EEA’s report highlights the widespread presence of PFOS in European waters, exceeding regulatory thresholds in many countries. The lack of long-term data makes it impossible to determine the trend of the spread of the pollutants, despite the ban. It is essential to continue monitoring and collecting data to better understand the extent of the contamination and to develop effective strategies to mitigate its impact on human health and the environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What are forever chemicals?
    • Forever chemicals are a group of synthetic chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
  • What is PFOS?
    • Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a type of PFAS that was banned in 2019.
  • What are the health risks associated with PFAS?
    • PFAS are classified as possible carcinogens by the World Health Organisation, and exposure to them has been linked to various health problems, including cancer, reproductive issues, and liver damage.
  • What can be done to mitigate the impact of PFAS on human health and the environment?
    • Continued monitoring and data collection are essential to better understand the extent of the contamination and to develop effective strategies to mitigate its impact.
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