Getting rid of PFAS: Can Europe put an end to the “forever chemicals”?

By Cyril Fourneris | Euro News | January 28, 2026

Read the full article by Cyril Fourneris (Euro News)

“High exposure to PFAS is associated with an increased risk of certain cancers, as well as reduced fertility and impaired immune function. The EU strengthens its regulatory arsenal to confront what some consider one of the greatest environmental threats of our time. Known as ‘forever chemicals,’ PFAS are man-made substances widely used by industry to manufacture many consumer products, such as electronic devices, paint, cars or cosmetics.

Their non-stick properties and resistance to heat make them extremely useful. But their high stability and strong mobility in soil, water and air — they are even detected in rain — are now raising growing concern among scientists, lawmakers and parts of the industry.

Science has already established some harmful effects on human health, such as low immune response or infertility. Perfluorooctanoic acid, known as PFOA, one of the few PFAS banned under the Stockholm Convention, is classified as carcinogenic.”…

This content provided by the PFAS Project.