A silent enemy lurks in everyday objects that gradually pollute our daily environment and eventually enter our bodies. It’s all about calls perfluorinated and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS), compounds currently known as ‘persistent pollutants‘ anyone chemical forever.given its practically indestructible character. Now, a study has identified for the first time the global scope of PFAS, and Spain is among the countries with the most population impact. The problem is bigger than previously thought.according to that investigation.
Hundreds of wildlife species, from panda bears to sea lions and tigers, are polluted by these persistent chemicals. A study by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) PFAS Project Laboratory reveals that more than 300 wild species contain traces of these PFASs. However, people also bear the consequences because these pollutants have reached the blood and the proportion of the European population accumulating these substances in their bodies is quite high.
Studies conducted in Europe, where more data on this problem are available, PFAS is located in at least 17,000 residential areas on the continent, more than 2,000 of which are classified as hazardous to human health.
“It doesn’t matter what country or continent it is; When testing strains for PFAS contamination, these harmful substances come up all the time,” says EWG.
The report of PFAS Putting a burden of tens of millions of euros each year on European health systems.
Such substances appeared in the 1940s. The most well-known of these is Teflon, which is often used in non-stick cookware.
It is a pollution found in the air, water and soil.and has been scientifically shown to pose health risks to humans, including cancer.
The situation is worse than expected
Analysis carried out over several months by 18 European organizations grouped in the ‘Pollution Forever Project’ showed that: Europe is far more polluted by PFAS than previously believedand that it would cost tens of billions of euros to rid nature of these dangerous chemicals.
“They do not decompose in the environment and are very mobile, so they can be detected in water, air, rain; animals such as otters or cod; boiled eggs, and also human, ”say the researchers.
found study 20 PFAS manufacturers and 232 industrial manufacturers in Europeespecially in Germany, where these compounds are identified in plastics, pesticides and waterproof textiles.
The distribution map of these pollutants reveals more than 2,100 critical points where their concentrations exceed the threshold of danger to human health, 100 nanograms per liter of water.
It has been known for years that certain ‘persistent pollutants’ cause cancer and reproductive problems, but little is known about their combined effects.
Certainly, a study published Wednesday in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives reveals exposure to multiple PFASs found in the environment. It can cause developmental disorders, cardiovascular diseases and various types of cancer.
“Most people carry a mixture of chemicals in their blood,” the study says.
However, PFAS emissions are not regulated in the European Union or the United States, but newly published research reveals “an extensive conspiracy to dilute proposed bans across the EU.”
Is Europe taking the initiative now?
Recently, it has been learned that the European Commission can: greater restriction toxic products historyFollowing a joint proposal by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) initiated by five EU countries (Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden) to end the use of perfluorinated and polyfluorinated compounds (PFAS for English acronym).
The proposal was submitted by these five countries to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in early January, but details were published only a few days ago. ECHA’s expert committees are scheduled to conduct initial reviews in March, but the in-depth review could take more than a year.
Organizations fighting against pollution such as Hogar sin Tóxicos describe the news as promising. means banning too many substances at the same time These bans, which have only been restricted one by one until now, give the industry the opportunity to circumvent these bans.
“If nothing disappoints him, For the first time, the EU was able to restrict hundreds or thousands of substances simultaneously, In this particular case of PFAS, instead of banning substances one by one as has been done so far, this meant a massive and fruitless fight against toxic substances,” says Carlos de Prada, head of the organisation.
Map with PFAS spots detected in wildlife: www.ewg.org/interactive-maps/pfas_in_wildlife/map/
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Contact details of the environment department: [email protected]