Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) – The “Forever Chemicals” ChallengeAuthor: Hossein Ataei Far, PhDPer- and polyfluoroalkyl subst...
Published on by Hossein Ataei Far, Ambassador for Sustainability | Water & Energy PPP Finance Facilitator
Author: Hossein Ataei Far, PhD
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as “forever chemicals”, remain a major concern in drinking water due to their persistence in the environment and potential health impacts (EPA, 2025; CDC, 2025; NIEHS, 2025). Below is an overview of the current situation and the outlook for 2025.
## 🚱 PFAS in Drinking Water: Current Situation
**Global Contamination**
PFAS contamination is a worldwide issue affecting drinking water supplies (EPA, 2025). Their chemical stability and mobility make them extremely difficult to remove from water sources (Fieldfisher, 2025; EPA, 2025).
**Health Risks**
Exposure to PFAS has been linked to:
* Certain cancers (NIEHS, 2025)
* Liver damage (CDC, 2025)
* Immune system suppression (NIEHS, 2025)
* Thyroid disorders (CDC, 2025)
* Developmental effects in infants and children (NIEHS, 2025)
## 🧭 Outlook for 2025
* Increased Monitoring – Rising awareness of PFAS risks is expected to drive broader adoption of systematic testing and monitoring of drinking water (EPA, 2025).
* Enhanced Regulations – Regulatory bodies in the U.S. and EU are anticipated to finalize and enforce stricter PFAS limits to protect public health (Fieldfisher, 2025; AP News, 2025; European Commission, 2025).
* Technological Advances – Continued innovation in water treatment technologies is likely to improve PFAS removal from drinking water (EPA, 2025).
References
[1] CDC. (2025). Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and your health. https://archive.cdc.gov/#/results?q=Per-%20and%20Polyfluoroalkyl%20Substances%20(PFAS)&start=0&rows=10
[2] EPA. (2025). PFAS explained. https://www.epa.gov/pfas
[3] EPA. (2025). Key actions to address PFAS. https://lnkd.in/dJsJUM4s
[4] European Commission. (2025). Drinking Water Directive (Recast). https://lnkd.in/d3PqsutP
[5] Fieldfisher. (2025). PFAS UK regulatory snapshot. https://lnkd.in/dGmSPF9a
[6] NIEHS. (2025). PFAS and health effects. https://lnkd.in/dDPRm2GQ
Part 2- Developing a coordinated approach to PFAS is being spearheaded by the OECD and ECHA.
Author: Emmanuel Poirot
Global Regulatory Manager • Crop Protection, Biotech & Precision Ag • Regulatory Strategy, Agricultural Policy & Scientific Advocacy • PhD | MBA • EN | ES | FR
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are under growing global scrutiny due to their persistence and potential health risks. As regulatory bodies intensify efforts to define and restrict their use, the OECD - OCDE and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) are leading the way in shaping a unified approach.
The OECD defines PFAS as substances that contain at least one fully fluorinated methyl (–CF₃) or methylene (–CF₂–) carbon atom, without any hydrogen, chlorine, bromine, or iodine attached to it. This structural definition covers thousands of substances with diverse chemical properties. It is used to harmonize regulatory approaches and facilitate identification.
ECHA aims to complete a scientific evaluation of the proposed EU-wide restriction on PFAS by the end of 2026. In a note published on 27 August today, ECHA announces a timeline for PFAS restriction evaluation.
ECHA has been reviewing a proposal to restrict PFAS substances in the EU since March 2023. This proposal covers over 10,000 substances used across many sectors. After a six-month public consultation, the committees began evaluating the proposal in batches, focusing on 14 sectors, along with PFAS manufacturing and broader regulatory issues.
The 14 sectors originally covered by the PFAS restriction proposal are ski wax, consumer mixtures and miscellaneous consumer articles, cosmetics, metal plating and manufacture of metal products, food contact materials and packaging, TULAC (textiles, upholstery, leather, apparel and carpets), petroleum and mining, construction products, applications of fluorinated gases, transport, energy, medical devices, lubricants, and electronics and semiconductors.
The authorities from Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, who submitted the proposal, have updated their initial report to reflect the feedback received. This updated version, called the Background Document, includes eight additional sectors: printing applications, sealing applications, machinery applications, other medical applications, military applications, explosives, technical textiles, and broader industrial uses.
The European Commission committed to act swiftly once ECHA’s scientific assessment is complete. However, due to the complexity and scale of the proposal, the committees will not conduct detailed evaluations of the eight newly added sectors within the current timeline. Instead, they will address general regulatory measures that apply across sectors, such as reporting requirements and PFAS management plans.
ECHA aims to deliver the final opinions from its Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis committees to the Commission in 2026. The final package will cover over 90 percent of PFAS emissions and volumes, giving the Commission a solid foundation for decision-making.
#PFAS #ChemicalSafety #EnvironmentalRegulation #ForeverChemicals
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