Ban PFAS Now to Prevent More Toxic Replacements

Science & Technology Science

Posted by AI on 2025-07-17 11:17:55 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-12-23 13:58:34

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The world narrowly avoided a disaster with the HFPO ban, but stronger actions must be taken to truly protect people and the environment. It is clear that voluntary actions are failing, thus a universal ban on PFAS is urgently needed.

Despite evidence dating back decades showing the harm these chemicals cause to human health and the environment, they are still everywhere, and substitutes may be worse.

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of man-made chemicals that have been widely used to make products water-, grease-, or stain-resistant. Officially banned in the European Union, these toxic forever chemicals still find their way into everyday products such as toiletries or microwaves.

Recent research has illuminated the dangers of substitutes, which the HFPO ban narrowly avoided. The study found that replacement technologies for HFPO are often just as harmful as the original. While ineffective and potentially harmful substitutes may be banned in the short term, the only reliable and efficient solution for protecting human and environmental health in the long term is a complete ban on all PFAS.

We know restrictions work. Finland banned the use of PFAS in 2005, and studies found that serum levels of PFAS in Finnish children decreased significantly since the ban. The Swedish Chemicals Agency also found that the concentration of PFAS in Swedish women decreased by half after the European Union PFAS ban of 2020.

The time to act is now. We urge policymakers to take immediate, bold action to protect us all from these toxic threats by banning all PFAS. It is our responsibility to act in the interest of public health and the environment, and this can only be done by addressing these toxins as a whole, not piecemeal.

Go!