European union-affiliated European Environment Agency Agency (EEA) released a report on the 10th that European waters are infested with “Permanent chemicals”, and it has polluted waters beyond regulatory thresholds set to reduce potential risks to human health and the environment. “Permanent chemicals,” collectively known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (Pfas) , are extremely difficult to degrade under natural conditions, including PFOS, which World Health Organization’s group lists as a “Possible carcinogen.”. Although PFOS was banned in 2019, the EEA’s latest report found the substance was still widespread in European waters, the report said.
From 2018 to 2022,51 to 60 percent of Europe’s rivers, 11 to 35 percent of its lakes and 47 to 100 percent of its coastal waters had elevated levels of PFOS, the data showed. Specifically, in 2022, Belgium, France and Iceland waters PFOS content completely exceeded the standard, Spain, Ireland, Poland and other places exceeded less. Bulgaria, Latvia and Montenegro are the only remaining countries that do not exceed PFOS levels.