Some PFAS chemicals are declining in English rivers but others are appearing
The levels of two globally restricted "forever chemicals" linked to health issues are showing a strong downwards trend in English rivers, but their understudied replacements are starting to fill the gap
Two of the most widely studied PFAS chemicals, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), have shown a significant decrease in concentration in English rivers over the past decade, according to a report by the Environment Agency. PFOS levels have dropped by 30 percent and PFOA levels have decreased by 29 percent.
Both chemicals are known to persist in the environment and have been associated with various health issues, including cancer and reproductive problems. The restrictions on PFOS and PFOA have been in place since 2009 and 2019 respectively. However, the report also highlights the emergence of other PFAS chemicals, known as short-chain PFAS and fluorotelomer compounds, which are now detectable in the environment.
The report emphasizes the need for tackling PFAS pollution at its source, as the health and environmental impacts of many of these chemicals are still not well understood. The EU is considering a blanket ban on all PFAS chemicals, while the UK government is closely following this development. Scientists argue that banning entire groups of chemicals could be a more effective approach than targeting individual chemicals.
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