On 9 December 2024, just a few weeks after the EU Water Body Health Report, the European Environment Agency (EEA) released its first overview of PFAS pollution in European waters.
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) comprise around 10,000 chemical compounds known to persist in the environment. In addition, some PFAS subgroups present other risks, such as bioaccumulation potential in living organisms, mobility in water, soil and air, long-range transport, and toxicological effects on humans and the environment.
According to data from the EEA briefing, PFOS, one of the best-known compounds in this group, has been detected in concentrations that exceeds environmental quality standards in multiple monitoring sites in Europe. Data from around 1,300 monitoring sites show that 59 per cent of sites in rivers, 35 per cent of sites in lakes and 73 per cent of sites in transitional and coastal waters exceeded limits in 2022. Similar results came from the US a few weeks ago. The comparison with the EU is useful, because possible restrictions are being worked on across the Atlantic.
The trend on PFAS monitoring
PFAS are man-made chemical compounds employed since the 1940s in numerous industrial and consumer sectors due to their unique properties. Being resistant to water, grease and high temperatures, they are found in products such as paper plates, non-stick pans, food packaging, textiles, carpets, leather, electronics and fire-fighting foams. The widespread use, however, has its consequences. In its briefing, PFAS pollution in European waters, EEA points out that it is still difficult to fully understand the extent of PFAS pollution in Europe due to data gaps and uncertainties.
From 2010 to 2022, the number of countries that initiated monitoring activities, the number of samples collected, sites monitored, and matrices analysed increased, indicating an improvement in the spatial coverage of data and monitoring efforts. France and Italy reported the highest number of samples. In 2022, most samples were collected in rivers (52%) and groundwater (40%), while fewer samples came from lakes (5%) and coastal waters (3%).
Comparing Europe and the US
The monitoring required in the coming years is impressive. The Forever Pollution Project investigation - published in early 2023 from the collaboration of journalists from 14 European countries, including Italy - had already revealed alarming data on PFAS contamination in Europe. Conducted with the involvement of the editorial offices of Le Monde and The Guardian between 2003 and 2023, the investigation exposed more than 17,000 contaminated sites in Europe with PFAS levels of 10 nanograms per litre or more, detected through sampling in water, soil and living organisms. If yet to be analysed “suspect” areas of contamination are also considered, the number rises to 21,000.
As anticipated, the PFAS issue is not only a European issue. In the United States, data in hand, the situation is worse. According to a study published on 24 October 2024 by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), between 71 and 95 million people in the contiguous United States (i.e. not counting Alaska, Hawaii and overseas possessions) could be supplied with groundwater containing detectable concentrations of PFAS. The USGS says its scientists are the first to provide nationwide estimates of the presence of PFAS in untreated groundwater that feeds public and private wells. The research also provides the first estimate of the number of people potentially exposed to PFAS-contaminated groundwater across the country.
Towards a progressive restriction of PFAS: proposals in Europe…
The new evidence presented in the EEA briefing supports the current proposal amending the Water Framework Directive to expand the list of priority substances (i.e. by including more PFAS) and the need to review the PFAS limits specified in the Drinking Water Directive. The evidence also supports the European Water Resilience Strategy, which is expected as a priority initiative of the new European Commission, reads an EEA statement.
”There is no more time to lose, the proposal currently under consideration by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) for a universal restriction of PFAS must be approved immediately,” commented Cristina Guarda, MEP of the Greens/EFA Group. “The EEA report highlights an alarming reality: many waterways and lakes in Europe are contaminated by extremely persistent chemical compounds such as PFAS. This situation poses a serious threat to public health and ecosystems. Industrial discharges and pesticides are harming our waters. Last week I welcomed the EU Commission's proposal to ban two PFAS-containing pesticides, flufenacet and flutolanil, as an essential step in the right direction."
The latest Eurobarometer highlighted that 78% of Europeans want stronger EU-level action on water pollution.
…and in the US
On 10 April 2024, the Biden-Harris administration introduced the first legally binding national drinking water standard aimed at protecting communities from exposure to PFAS. part of the Environmental Protection Agency's PFAS Strategic Roadmap, the new standard, comes alongside the announcement of nearly $1 billion in new funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. According to a statement, it serves “to help states and territories implement PFAS testing and treatment in public water systems and support private well owners,”.
The Forever Chemical Regulation and Accountability Act (FCRAA) was then presented to the US Congress on 18 April. This bill was put forward by Senator Dick Durbin and Congresswoman Betty McCollum and aims to eliminate the “non-essential” uses of PFAS within ten years. However, as reported by the NGO Food & Water Watch, its adoption seems to be at risk due to the recent Supreme Court revival and the return of the Republicans to government. Under the proposal, non-essential uses in some categories must be phased out within four years, with a ten-year deadline for all others. Similarly to the EU proposal, exemptions are provided for critical purposes if there are no viable alternatives. In addition, the bill requires PFAS manufacturers to report to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the use of these substances and their plans for disposal, in line with similar regulations already adopted at state level, for example in Minnesota and Maine. The bill also includes provisions to ensure that companies cannot avoid liability through bankruptcy proceedings by imposing civil penalties for non-compliance.
This article is also available in Italian / Questo articolo è disponibile anche in italiano
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