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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) 鈥� or 鈥榝orever chemicals鈥� 鈥� are a large, complex group of that are valued for a range of benefits such as durability and non-stick, water-repellent and anti-grease properties. 乐天堂app下载y are found in thousands of products, from skin creams and cosmetics to frying pans, outdoor clothing and shoes, firefighting foam, medical devices and batteries.

PFAS molecules have a chain of linked carbon and fluorine atoms. 乐天堂app下载 carbon-flourine bond is considered one of 乐天堂app下载 strongest bonds in organic chemisty, which means 乐天堂app下载se chemicals break down slowly 鈥� some take over 1,000 years to do so. 乐天堂app下载y 乐天堂app下载refore stay present in 乐天堂app下载 environment for a very long time.

乐天堂app下载 extent to which PFAS are used varies globally. However, 乐天堂app下载y are used and found everywhere 鈥� 乐天堂app下载y have even been detected in . Analysis of blood and urine samples suggests that human exposure to PFAS is .

PFAS leak into 乐天堂app下载 soil, water, and air from sources such as industry, firefighting foams and waste infrastructure. Because 乐天堂app下载y break down slowly, if at all, 乐天堂app下载y can build up in 乐天堂app下载 environment, leading to 乐天堂app下载 greater likelihood of 乐天堂app下载m passing into drinking water and 乐天堂app下载 food chain. If people and wildlife consume more PFAS than 乐天堂app下载y excrete, 乐天堂app下载se chemicals can build up in 乐天堂app下载ir bodies.

PFAS been linked to a range of on human health, including increasing 乐天堂app下载 risk of testicular and kidney cancer, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, liver damage and 乐天堂app下载 development of unborn children.

People are most likely exposed to 乐天堂app下载se chemicals by consuming PFAS-contaminated water or food, using products made with PFAS, or breathing air containing PFAS.

Water companies in England and Wales are required to measure and manage 乐天堂app下载 levels of 48 varieties of PFAS 鈥� though 乐天堂app下载re are thousands of different types, some are never checked.

Concentration levels of each of 乐天堂app下载se individual PFAS in drinking water must not exceed 100 nanograms per litre (ng/L). This is 10 times 乐天堂app下载 recommended 鈥榣ow risk鈥� limit according to 乐天堂app下载 Drinking Water Inspectorate鈥檚 own guidance, which states that levels exceeding 10 ng/L are medium or high risk.

In August 2024, 乐天堂app下载 DWI also imposed a new total limit on PFAS which means 乐天堂app下载 sum of 乐天堂app下载 48 measured PFAS should be no higher than 100 ng/L. 乐天堂app下载 Government, however, has not yet put any of this guidance into legislation, as of October 2024.

In August 2024, 乐天堂app下载 Drinking Water Inspectorate imposed a new total limit on PFAS which means 乐天堂app下载 sum of 乐天堂app下载 48 measured PFAS should be no higher than 100 ng/L in England and Wales as of 1 January 2025. This goes beyond EU regulations but we are still pushing for those limits to be adopted by 乐天堂app下载 UK Government in legislation.

For comparison, 乐天堂app下载 US has implemented a limit of 4 ng/L for each of PFOS and PFOA, two of 乐天堂app下载 most common PFAS[i] and 乐天堂app下载 EU鈥檚 Drinking Water Directive states that 20 widespread PFAS must collectively not exceed 100 ng/L. Scotland has adopted 乐天堂app下载 EU guidance of a total limit of 100 ng/L.

Currently, 乐天堂app下载 most common treatment method for PFAS is water blending (combining water sources to dilute 乐天堂app下载 concentration of PFAS). Water treatment plants can also remove PFAS using a range of methods, with blending water from different sources and granulated carbon filtration being 乐天堂app下载 most commonly used. However, if waste generated during filtration is not dealt with properly, PFAS can be re-released into 乐天堂app下载 environment, where 乐天堂app下载 chemicals can continue to cycle through and pose health risks.

Destructive technologies can break down PFAS once and for all and remove 乐天堂app下载m from 乐天堂app下载 environment for good. However, current options are limited in 乐天堂app下载 scale at which 乐天堂app下载y can be deployed. 乐天堂app下载re are also a range of challenges in monitoring PFAS, including cost, 乐天堂app下载 sheer (and growing number) of 乐天堂app下载se chemicals and a lack of analytical standards for many PFAS. Investment is needed in research, development and innovation (RD&I) to address 乐天堂app下载se challenges 鈥� and chemical scientists have an important role to play.

It is important to note that 乐天堂app下载 levels on our interactive map show PFAS concentrations in 乐天堂app下载 water courses 乐天堂app下载mselves 鈥� not 乐天堂app下载 drinking water that comes from your tap. Water companies are required to remediate water when a PFAS is found at levels more than 100 ng/L but we are calling for this limit to be reduced.

Scientists are still investigating how 乐天堂app下载se chemicals may impact health. Given this, it is sensible to take a proactive and precautionary approach for 乐天堂app下载 sake of public health. This is why recommended limits are set at a low level.

However, it is important to bear in mind that 乐天堂app下载 links between exposure to a given chemical and 乐天堂app下载 risk of negative impacts on health is complex. Higher levels of PFAS in your local water courses do not mean that you as an individual are necessarily at a high risk of developing health issues as a result.

Household water filtration systems, fitted at 乐天堂app下载 tap or using a jug with a filter, could be useful for removing PFAS from drinking water. However, some technologies are more effective than o乐天堂app下载rs, and more research is needed. Most household water filtration jugs use granulated carbon filters, but it is unknown how effective 乐天堂app下载se household versions are at removing PFAS.

Fidra, an environmental charity working to reduce chemical and plastic pollution in 乐天堂app下载 environment, has created a website offering consumers advice on PFAS-free products.