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Environment

PFAS pollution

What are the threats from PFAS "forever chemicals", and how will the EU tackle them?

What are PFAS, how are they used, and why do they matter?

What are PFAS and why are they “forever” chemicals?

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used synthetic chemicals with strong carbon-fluorine bonds, making them highly persistent in the environment.

What are PFAS used for?

PFAS resist heat, water and chemicals, making them useful in products such as batteries, lubricants, non-stick cookware, water-repellent textiles, firefighting foams and food packaging.

How long do they last?

Some PFAS last longer in the environment than any other synthetic substance. Exposure in people and animals continues to increase while PFAS continue to be released - but even if releases stopped today, PFAS would remain for generations.

Are they a threat?

PFAS pollution poses a significant and long-term threat to human health and ecosystems. Some restrictions for individual PFAS already exist but they often lead to the use of replacement chemicals that are also hazardous.

Extent of the PFAS issue

PFAS emissions and exposure pathways

The primary way people are exposed to PFAS is through drinking water and food contaminated by PFAS pollution. This pollution originates from various sources, including industrial activities that produce or use PFAS, and products such as pesticides. 

PFAS are also released when products containing them become waste. 

Removing PFAS from waste is highly challenging, as only incineration at very high temperatures in hazardous waste facilities can eliminate them.

Diagram showing PFAS pathways from industry into consumer goods, firefighting, waste infrastructure, the environment, food, and ultimately human exposure.

Impacts of PFAS pollution

  • Effects on unborn children
    • Delayed mammary gland development
    • Lower birth weight
    • Obesity
    • Early puberty onset
    • Increased miscarriage risk
    • Lower sperm count and mobility
  • Effects on adults
    • Thyroid disease
    • Breast cancer
    • Liver cancer
    • Kidney cancer
    • Inflammatory bowel disease
    • Testicular cancer
    • Increased time to pregnancy
    • Pregnancy induced hypertension
  • Risks to the environment
    • Persistance and accumulation in the environment (soil, water, air), food, animals
    • Disruption of ecosystems

The economic costs of PFAS pollution in Europe

If the current levels of pollution continue until 2050, the cost to society will reach €440 billion over that period.

Treating polluted water alone would cost more than €1 trillion.

However, tackling PFAS releases at the source could save €110 billion.

Swift action to reduce PFAS releases at source is by far the cheapest approach.

Why the EU is taking action

  • Risk of significant harm and risks to human health and the environment.

    Growing evidence links PFAS exposure to serious health and environmental harm.

  • Economic and social risk, intergenerational fairness.

    Cutting emissions early is the cheapest and most effective solution.

  • Strong EU business case for firm action.

    Safer alternatives to PFAS can be produced in the EU.

What is the EU doing?

Proposed EU-wide ban

In March 2023, national authorities submitted a request to ECHA, the European Chemicals Agency, for restricting all PFAS. This would mean a broad restriction instead of the substance-by-substance approach used in previous restrictions. Based on ECHA's opinion, the Commission will propose a restriction.

Industrial Emissions

The Industrial Emissions Directive now imposes stricter monitoring of PFAS emissions, with the obligation to report on PFOA and PFHxS and their salts from 2028.

Drinking Water

The EU has adopted limits for PFAS in drinking water. Since January 2026, Member States must monitor PFAS levels in all drinking water and ensure they are within limits.

Groundwater and surface water

In April 2026 the EU adopted a proposed update to the lists of water pollutants, to ensure they will always be aligned with the latest scientific advice, and that new substances will be monitored and more strictly controlled.

Soil

Under the Soil Monitoring Law the EU establishes a list of soil contaminants, including PFAS. Member States will need to measure PFAS in relevant soil samples, allowing contamination hotspots to be identified.

Packaging

From August 2026, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation bans food contact packaging that contains PFAS concentrations above certain limits.

Timeline of previous restrictions

2006 PFOS ban
2017 PFOA and PFHxS ban
2021 PFCA ban (first round)
2024 PFHxA ban
2025 PFAS in fire-fighting foam ban
2026 PFCA ban (second round)

Ongoing work to get rid of PFAS

  • Establish innovation and substitution hubs to help companies, especially SMEs, switch to safer alternatives.
  • Identify PFAS abatement techniques for industrial installations, under the Industrial Emissions Directive.
  • Set up EU-wide PFAS monitoring to bring data together and support better cleanup action.
  • Public-Private Initiatives on PFAS detection and remediation under the Water Resilience Strategy.

Examples of PFAS uses for which alternatives exist

  • Consumer textiles and footwear where for example water repellence can be achieved through new technologies

  • Electronics, such as headphones

  • Refrigeration and air conditioning including in cars and heat pumps where propane or CO2 can be used instead of F-gases

  • Cosmetics

  • Solar panels made with polypropylene and polyolefin

  • Batteries made with a water-based binder

Many of these alternatives are being developed in the EU, or are industries where the EU retains a strong presence