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PFAS remain concerning, says EU report – but will action follow?

Harmful PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, and their impact on public health remains a key issue, according to the landmark EU Draghi Report.

The Draghi Report sets out a roadmap for the European Union’s competitiveness in coming years.

The Draghi report looks at the future of European competitiveness, exploring the challenges experienced by the European sector and businesses in the single market. Its recommendations will direct the EU’s direction for the next five years.

Hailed as a landmark exploration of the EU market, the 400-page report urges immediate funds and reforms to salvage Europe’s economic health and bridge the market’s gap with other global giants, the US and China. According to the report, the minimum investment sum required for this economic boost is €750 to 800 billion.

The Draghi report is apprehensive about the economic repercussions of moving away from using PFAS. However, according to HEAL, this view misses the point.

“European competitiveness will not be harmed by a PFAS restriction – but without it, people’s health will be”. That’s the concern the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) said on 9th September 2024, the same day the report was released.

“This approach is fundamentally flawed given the health costs and severe health and environmental consequences associated with these substances, including for freshwater, food and soil contamination,” the European not-for-profit organisation said in its published response to the Draghi report’s findings.

PFAS take thousands of years to degrade and are linked to severe health issues such as cancer, thyroid disease, immune system problems and hormone disruption. According to a 2019 report titled The Cost of Inaction, the annual health expenses linked to PFAS exposure are estimated between €52-84 billion for Europe alone.

In 2023, the Forever Pollution Project found that approximately 23,000 locations in Europe are contaminated with PFAS. It has also been reported that 12.5 million Europeans live in areas with PFAS-polluted drinking water. The EU member states have agreed to implement a unified approach to tackle the pollution issue by introducing a comprehensive EU-wide restriction on PFAS within the REACH framework.

Finding technological solutions

HEAL says that because of the scientific evidence demonstrating the detrimental impact of PFAS on health, any exemptions need to be accompanied by stringent time constraints. These need to be in place to facilitate the complete elimination of PFAS and encourage the adoption of safer alternative technologies, as has already been implemented for certain applications.

“The concerns expressed in the Draghi report over the lack of alternative technologies for certain industries considering the EU PFAS ban in preparation are misleading, as the proposed EU-wide PFAS restriction does allow derogations for certain industries and uses,” said Sandra Jen, programme lead on health and chemicals at HEAL.

ChemSec, a non-profit organisation advocating for substituting toxic chemicals for safer alternatives, explores how industries can look beyond PFAS, stating that safer alternatives are available.

“HEAL calls on European decision makers to protect the health of people by supporting the proposed EU-wide PFAS restriction and setting clear time limits for any derogations,” added Jen.

Gaps in research and policy

Adding to the body of research on the detrimental impact on endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) like PFAS, a report on public health was published in February 2024. The Endocrine Society, a global community of investigators and clinicians, and the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), a global organisation promoting policies to protect human health and environmental rights, launched their report to demystify the often confusing topic.

EDCs refer to individual substances or mixtures that can affect our hormones’ natural functioning, which can lead to disease or even death. PFAS is a type of EDC. “The science on EDCs has been increasing rapidly, with mounting evidence showing global health threats posed by EDCs in the environment,” the report said.

Estimates indicate that almost a quarter of global human diseases and disorders are attributable to environmental factors. EDCs in the environment may contribute to hormone disorders, such as diabetes, neurological disorders, reproductive disorders, inflammation and compromised immune functioning, the report states.

Although scientific and health organisations have voiced concerns about EDCs and many have called for stronger regulations, the report says considerable gaps remain between global and national chemical control policies and EDC science. The report states that EDCs do not act like other chemicals and regulatory practices currently do not account for how EDCs can pose health threats.