Forever chemicals: What are they and could they be totally banned in the EU?

euronews (in English)

Since PFAS were found in the south of Lyon, Pierre-Bénite has become a European symbol in the fight against forever chemical pollution.   But what are these substances exactly, and why are they causing concern across Europe?

Transcript

00:00This area in the south of Lyon, France, is known as the Chemical Valley, and its name

00:10is no coincidence.

00:12Chemical and petrochemical industrial giants have facilities here.

00:16Many of these sites have been classified as presenting the risk of causing major accidents,

00:21and worrying levels of PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, have been discovered.

00:27But what are PFAS exactly, and why are they causing concern, not only here, but all over

00:32Europe?

00:33This is European Stories.

00:38Bare and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are a group of thousands of synthetic chemicals,

00:44and they are everywhere.

00:46From rain jackets to pizza boxes, to guitar strings, waterproof makeup, and even dental

00:52floss.

00:54PFAS are also used to produce technologies that are key for the green and digital transitions,

01:01such as semiconductors, electric car batteries, and even wind turbines.

01:07They are highly resistant, and very good at repelling water, grease, and oil.

01:12But what makes them so useful, also makes them potentially harmful.

01:16They are called forever chemicals because they don't naturally break down in the environment.

01:21Today, they can be found in water, soil, animal feed, and even in our blood.

01:29Research conducted across nine European countries found PFAS in the blood of teenagers in every

01:34single country studied.

01:38Scientific studies have linked PFAS to cancer, cardiovascular and thyroid diseases, infertility,

01:45and immune system disorders.

01:48Most technologies for PFAS treatment used today only serve to remove them from water,

01:53and they are expensive.

01:54Currently, only a few PFAS are banned in the European Union, but this could change.

02:01In 2023, five European countries proposed restricting PFAS under REACH, the European

02:07Union's chemical regulation.

02:10The European Chemicals Agency is now evaluating the proposal.

02:14It will then share its opinions with the European Commission, which, together with

02:18member states, will decide on the restriction.

02:25In France, PFAS have been making the headlines.

02:28The National Assembly and Senate recently adopted a bill to ban forever chemicals by

02:322026 in cosmetics, most clothing, and ski waxes.

02:37And here in Lyon, the Greater City Council is taking two giants of the chemical valley

02:42to court.

02:43The Japanese air conditioning manufacturer Daikin and the French firm Arkema are world

02:48leaders in specialty materials such as adhesives and fluorochemicals.

02:53Both groups are accused of releasing massive amounts of forever chemicals.

02:57Pierre-Benit, just outside of Lyon, is one of the most affected areas.

03:04Many residents here are concerned.

03:08Thierry, who's lived in Pierre-Benit for 70 years, is one of them.

03:13A journalist told him about PFAS in 2021.

03:18Thierry now heads a citizen group to raise awareness about them.

03:28Thierry takes us to a vegetable garden, a plot of land that the chemical manufacturer

03:34Arkema gave to its workers.

03:42At the entrance, there is no visible indication of the controversy surrounding what is produced

03:47in this garden.

03:48Thierry shows us around.

04:00We are joined by Fabien, also a resident of the chemical valley.

04:04In his commune, Saint-Symphorien-de-Zon, high levels of PFAS were found in drinking water.

04:10In the Rhône Valley, the local health authority estimates that around 150,000 people's tap

04:16water is polluted with PFAS.

04:19The state ordered Arkema to stop using PFAS by end 2024, but this doesn't solve the issue

04:25of those already in the environment.

04:41I ask Thierry and Fabien if they still eat vegetables from the area.

04:52As for Thierry, he no longer eats local.

05:20Thierry might be right.

05:21Local authorities and even Arkema have advised people not to eat what is produced in this

05:27garden.

05:28Locals are also recommended not to eat eggs here.

05:33Back at Thierry's, I asked him if he thought European institutions could help.

05:37Here's what he told me.

05:51Can we do without PFAS in our daily lives?

06:01And is a ban at the EU level realistic?

06:05I contacted the European Chemicals Agency, which is currently studying a proposal from

06:10five European countries to restrict PFAS.

06:16We have two independent scientific committees, and they will evaluate this proposal that

06:21we have received from the five countries.

06:23So that's Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.

06:27And they have proposed a ban with EU-specific and time-limited derogations.

06:32That means that derogations are proposed for uses where PFAS-free alternatives are not

06:38yet available or suitable, or where the societal impacts are significant.

06:43For example, they have proposed a 12-year transition period for implantable medical

06:48devices.

06:49Whether it is easy or not to replace the PFAS, it really depends on the type of use.

06:54In some types of uses, it may be rather straightforward because there are alternatives available.

07:01But in other uses, it might be quite complex, and maybe the alternatives are not yet available.

07:08But again, that's all in the proposal, and that's being evaluated by the scientific

07:12committee.

07:13So at this point in time, I cannot really give you a final answer on what the opinions

07:17will be and what exactly the periods will be, but this is what has been considered in

07:22the proposal.

07:24So it's not yet clear whether there will be a restriction and what the conditions would

07:29be.

07:30The European Commission and the member states will have the final say.

07:34But if this happens, it could be a milestone in European chemicals regulation, as it would

07:39cover the whole family of PFAS substances.

07:42This would prevent industries from replacing PFAS with other PFAS.

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