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Levels of the two most toxic forever chemicals in England’s rivers have dropped by nearly a third over the last decade, according to new figures from the Environment Agency. The decline in PFOS and PFOA follows stricter restrictions on their use in products after increasing evidence emerged regarding their damaging impact on human health and the environment.
History and Risks of Forever Chemicals
PFAS were first developed in the 1930s in the United States and became popular with companies manufacturing products such as frying pans and firefighting foam due to their useful oil-resistant, water-resistant, and electrical properties. They are known as forever chemicals because their natural resistance means they take a very long time to break down naturally in the environment.
The earliest types of these chemicals were named PFOS and PFOA. Two decades ago, researchers discovered they were linked to tissue damage in animals and increased rates of certain serious health conditions, including testicular cancer. Consequently, PFOS was almost entirely banned in the UK in 2010, followed by PFOA in 2020.
Latest Data and Expert Reaction
The latest data from the regulator, published on Thursday, indicates that concentrations of PFOS and PFOA in English rivers have fallen by 30% and 29% respectively over the past 10 years. Additionally, levels found in freshwater fish have dropped by 49%.
“It’s brilliant to see how far we have come in the last 10 years,” said Dr David Megson, reader in environmental forensics at Manchester Metropolitan University.
While thousands of other forever chemicals officially known as PFAS remain in use, the regulator stated that its report demonstrates the need for them all to be better monitored and regulated.
Future Monitoring and Challenges
There are estimated to be around 15,000 other PFAS, though only about 200 are frequently used. The Environment Agency noted that despite increasing research into these compounds, uncertainty remains regarding the toxicity of many PFAS, reinforcing the need to regulate all of them rather than addressing them one by one.
The chemicals industry has long opposed a group approach, arguing that there is currently limited or no evidence suggesting that other PFAS are toxic, and that some serve vital uses such as in life-saving medical equipment. Meanwhile, the regulator is now regularly testing for 60 other PFAS to build a picture of contamination across the country, and earlier this month the government announced it would begin monitoring levels in human bodies.
The Environment Agency report acknowledged that while concentration levels have fallen, the overall amount still in the environment likely remains unchanged because the chemicals take so long to break down, meaning they have simply been diluted and washed into the sea. Megson added that a lot of work remains, noting that the report provides an essential foundation to support investigations to make polluters pay for any damage they have caused. One of the few ways to permanently destroy PFAS is through high-temperature incineration, with only two suitable sites currently operating in the country.
