Tackling PFAS could save big bucks and our health

"The UK announced Tuesday to tackle PFAS pollution, introducing an action plan to "understand where these chemicals are coming from, how they spread and how to reduce public and environmental exposure." The plan includes monitoring of rivers, lakes and seas, supporting a transition away from PFAS and consulting on a limit for drinking water. While some have called the plan "encouraging", others have said it doesn't go far enough."

""This plan is a roadmap to nowhere for one of the most serious pollution threats facing nature and public health," Chloe Alexander, chemicals policy lead at Wildlife and Countryside Link, said in a statement, calling it a "crushingly disappointing framework". The plan comes amid increasing efforts in a number of countries to limit the damaging effects of forever chemicals. Earlier in January, EU limits for PFAS in drinking water came into force, making it mandatory for member states to systematically monitor and report"

"What exactly are PFAS? The forever chemicals are a group of more than 10,000 synthetic chemical substances known as Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). Most are produced in the automotive, paper, metal, chemical and plastics industries and are found in virtually all everyday items from plastic surfaces and pizza box coatings to outdoor clothing. PFAS residues are now found almost everywhere in nature, cannot be broken down naturally, and thus permanently pollute water"

The UK unveiled an action plan aimed at tackling PFAS pollution by identifying sources, tracking spread and reducing public and environmental exposure. The plan proposes monitoring rivers, lakes and seas, supporting transitions away from PFAS and consulting on limits for drinking water. Responses to the plan were mixed, with some viewing it as encouraging and others criticizing its lack of binding phase-outs or commitments to broad bans. The move occurs alongside EU measures that mandate systematic monitoring and reporting and consider wider PFAS restrictions. PFAS are thousands of persistent synthetic chemicals found across industries and everyday products, and they permanently contaminate water.

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