Alarming PFAS contamination: Toxic chemicals threaten our water!

Alarming PFAS contamination: Toxic chemicals threaten our water!

What has recently improved Germany's water quality? A topic that has many people thinking is per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, better known as PFAS. These “forever chemicals”, which are hardly degradable, pose serious health concerns, as Schwäbische.de reports. They are suspected of being carcinogenic and could also lead to nervous system disorders and cardiovascular diseases.

In recent studies, traces of PFAS were found in cow's milk in Appenzell Innerrhoden, Switzerland. The cause lies in contaminated sewage sludge, which was used there as fertilizer until 2006. There are also concerns about the quality of drinking water in Germany, for example at Memmingen Airport, where contamination was detected ten years ago. Changing the drinking water supply in the community of Ungerhausen cost over 800,000 euros.

The EU and the problem of PFAS

But the challenges are not only felt locally. The European Union already called for an action plan in 2019 to limit non-essential uses of PFAS. Pressure is growing on the Commission not only to reconsider the use of pesticides and F-gases containing PFAS, but also to establish stricter quality standards for drinking water. This is proven by a current report Europaparlament.eu, which addresses the problem of PFAS and their degradation products such as trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). High concentrations of TFA make removal from drinking water nearly impossible or prohibitively expensive.

The health concerns mentioned should not be underestimated. The toxicological profiles of PFAS show that these chemicals accumulate in the body and are absorbed through food or water. Studies have shown an increased tendency to infection, changes in cholesterol levels and birth weight abnormalities, as the Federal Environment Agency has documented in detailed human biomonitoring studies. Remaining dangers of PFAS should not be left to chance.

Surveillance measures

In order to keep track of exposure, regular human biomonitoring is carried out in Germany. What is particularly worrying is that, according to the 2024 GerES VI study, a significant number of adults with PFAS contamination have already been identified. Here, 21.1% of participants exceeded the HBM I value for PFOA, one of the most common PFAS, and 7.3% for PFOS. The longevity and difficulty of defending against these chemicals requires even greater action.

In summary, it can be said that the problem of PFAS requires the greatest attention not only regionally, but also at European level. The exchange of information and measures to reduce these toxic compounds is essential to protect the environment and the health of the population. The development of clear limit values, such as those aimed at with the 2026 amendment to the EU Drinking Water Directive, could play a decisive role here.