European environment ministers have taken blood tests to look for the forever chemicals in a public campaign, shedding light on the worrying presence of the toxic substances, writes Politico.
Forever chemicals, or PFAS, are perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances found in a wide range of everyday objects and products. They do not break down, and PFAS have been shown to accumulate in the environment and can cause a range of health problems, including cancer, liver damage and reduced fertility. Most people today have the forever chemicals in their blood.
Danish Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke told Politico that he hopes to draw attention to the problem. He added that this is a serious threat to the health and the environment, and PFAS in everyday products should be banned in the European Union. Denmark, which currently holds the presidency of the European Council, held a collective test in Aalborg.
A recent study in the Netherlands found that all participants had the forever chemicals in their blood,
and in most cases their levels exceeded the permissible limit. Although the damage is not immediately noticeable, it affects the body over time, for example by weakening the immune system.
Heunicke said he knows that the forever chemicals will be in his blood and believes that they will also be found in the blood of his colleagues, but he is waiting for the results to see how much and what chemicals will be found.
Of all the ministers who were invited to take blood tests, at least 20 have accepted the invitation, and the acceptance of the tests will continue on the 11th of July.
Denmark is one of five European countries that sent a joint proposal to the EC in 2023 to end the use of PFAS. The draft law is currently under consideration, but has already faced strong resistance from the industry, where many are demanding exemption clauses for them. The EC has indicated that it will encourage the elimination of PFAS in consumer products, with the exception of certain sectors that have not yet been named.
The long-lasting chemicals are used in several critical industrial sectors, including the production of semiconductors, batteries and medical devices.
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