European countries have differing rules on how much so-called forever chemicals can be used, a study by Health and Environment Alliance has found.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of more than 10,000 man-made chemicals.
They can be used for a range of products including non-stick frying pans, waterproof raincoats and even lipstick.
But PFAS chemicals do not easily break down in the natural environment. That’s why they are commonly known as forever chemicals.
And there are increasing concerns about their health effects.
“PFAS have been linked to cancers, thyroid disease, immune dysfunction and hormone disruption. This is deeply concerning, especially since these chemicals can linger in our bodies and the environment for decades—or even millennia”, says Génon Jensen from the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL).
Now HEAL has discovered that the extent to which PFAS chemicals are used, varies greatly between different EU countries.
According to their report, Ireland relies solely on European law which HEAL believes is currently insufficient:
“There is no action plan or strategy dedicated to PFAS in Ireland. Ireland has transposed the Drinking Water Directive without adopting additional national requirements related to PFAS in drinking water.
There is currently no restriction of PFAS in consumer products in Ireland other than the uses banned at EUor international level, and no requirements for food products other than the EU requirements in Regulation (EU) 2023/915.
No national measures in other areas (e.g. surface and groundwater, soil, sludge, industrial emissions) were identified in Ireland.”
That does not mean that Ireland has been completely lax.
The Environment Protection Agency monitors PFAS levels in water and the HSE is also watching developments.
EU laws on chemicals, water supply, waste and package all contain rules on PFAS which Ireland, like all EU member states must abide by.
But other EU countries take a stricter approach.
Countries including Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark have called for a PFAS ban.
That request is currently under assessment by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
“Fragmented approaches cannot solve a borderless contamination crisis; urgent EU and complementary national action is essential to protect people equally across Europe”, Génon Jensen argues.
“While Austria, Denmark, and France have national PFAS plans, and Belgium has regional ones, most EU member states rely on EU regulations that are not sufficient to control PFAS contamination and protect health”, HEAL says.
HEAL wants to see an EU-wide PFAS restriction by 2030 including:
- All currently unregulated PFAS, including fluoropolymers.
- Coverage of production and use across all sectors.
- Derogations only for essential uses critical to health, safety, or societal functioning – if there are no safe alternatives.
- Time-limited and regularly reviewed derogations.
- Strict risk-management (labelling, monitoring, reporting) for derogated use.
“Further EU pesticide, biocide and pharmaceutical legislation need to be strengthened to tackle all sources of PFAS pollution as these are not covered in the scope of the planned PFAS restriction”, HEAL says.