The EU will ban 200 Pfas, but it is a half victory

The EU will ban 200 Pfas, but it is a half victory

From 2023 the European Union will ban about 200 long-chain Pfas, but thousands will still be authorized, with risks for the environment and humans

Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerous

Starting from 2023, around 200 perfluoroalkyl substances, better known as Pfas. This is the first time that such a ban has been imposed at EU level, but unfortunately thousands of potentially dangerous substances will still be allowed.





The ban on these chemical compounds, widely used in the most diverse sectors (starting from agriculture) follows a proposal from the Swedish Chemicals Agency (KEMI) and the German Environment Agency (UBA), presented in 2017.

Although the actual ban covers only six chemicals Pfas a chain stone (with molecules between 9 and 14 fluorinated carbon atoms), the number of Pfas subject to restrictions is approximately 200, as they can all be incorporated into one of the six prohibited substances. And this stance bodes well for those who have been fighting for years to stop the use of these chemical compounds that poison the environment and can cause damage to human health.

Numerous studies have attested the danger of PFAS for humans. We know, in fact, that they are endocrine disruptors, that is, they alter the hormonal processes within the organism, with heavy consequences on development, behavior and fertility. They can also promote the onset of thyroid and metabolic diseases (such as obesity and type 2 diabetes). Finally, they are considered carcinogenic substances, with an influence on the onset of diseases such as kidney or testicular cancer. 

Read also: We breathe PFAS every day: they also contaminate the air in the home, offices and classrooms. I study

When will short-chain Pfas also be banned?

As anticipated, the ban concerns some long-chain Pfas, or those that cause major environmental and health concerns, due to their persistence in ecosystems, often associated with a high capacity for bioaccumulation and toxicity. But according to several experts, including Swedish toxicologist Anna Lennquist of the International Chemical Secretariat, even short-chain ones should be banned as soon as possible. 

For years we have argued that short-chain PFAS are also very problematic. - explains the doctor - While the long ones accumulate in animals and humans, the short ones are a big problem in water sources, as they cannot be captured, which means that we cannot purify the water from short-chain PFAS . This restriction is a step in the right direction, but we are by no means finished ”.



Follow us on Telegram | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Youtube


Sources: International Chemical Secretariat / European Commission

Read also:

  • PFAS: what they are, why they are dangerous and we are finding them everywhere
  • The Arctic is melting, releasing high concentrations of PFAS into the sea
  • Pfas: Covid is more deadly in contaminated areas, the study
  • Pfas are also present in pesticides, and no one knows why. The alarm of the scientists
add a comment of The EU will ban 200 Pfas, but it is a half victory
Comment sent successfully! We will review it in the next few hours.