Concerns regarding PFAS pollution, known as „forever chemicals,“ are rising across Europe. However, comprehensive monitoring data remains scarce. A new assessment from the European Environment Agency (EEA) reveals that most of the monitored rivers, lakes, transitional, and coastal waters in Europe are contaminated with at least one of these extremely persistent chemical compounds, which pose risks to both human health and the environment.

Widespread PFAS contamination

PFAS, with over 10,000 different compounds, are notorious for their persistence in the environment. The EEA’s latest data from 2022, covering approximately 1,300 monitoring sites across Europe, shows concerning levels of PFAS contamination. Of the sites monitored, 59% of rivers, 35% of lakes, and 73% of transitional and coastal waters surpassed the environmental quality standard for PFOS, a common PFAS compound.

Gaps in monitoring data

Despite the alarming findings, the EEA notes that it remains difficult to fully assess the extent of PFAS contamination across Europe due to data gaps and uncertainties. These challenges complicate efforts to meet the EU’s zero pollution ambition and the goal of achieving good chemical status for water bodies under the Water Framework Directive.

Striving for better monitoring and policy changes

To better understand the scope of PFAS pollution, the EEA stresses the need for more sensitive analytical methods and broader geographic coverage in monitoring efforts. The latest findings support proposals to amend the Water Framework Directive, expand the list of priority substances to include more PFAS, and revise limits in the Drinking Water Directive. This is part of a broader effort to enhance Europe’s water resilience and reduce pollution levels by 2050.