PFAS have been appearing in the news with increasing frequency. This broad group of chemical substances has become a major topic of discussion—both in regulatory debates and across various industry sectors. And it is far from being an issue limited to the European Union, which often adopts chemical legislation ahead of other markets. PFAS are now a subject of public and regulatory attention in many major economies worldwide.

Focusing only on the latest developments, we can observe that:

• Companies such as BASF and Ecolab are working on plans to eliminate PFAS from their product portfolios;
• Australian organisations are prioritising the reduction of PFAS-contaminated clothing imports, as well as introducing bans on PFAS in cosmetics and personal care products;
• The U.S. state of Washington has introduced rules restricting the use of PFAS in cleaning agents, textiles, and certain automotive cleaning products;
• The European Parliament has supported proposed amendments to the Toy Safety Directive, including a ban on the sale of toys containing PFAS;
• McDonald’s is approaching its global targets for removing PFAS from its packaging.

And this is by no means a complete list of PFAS-related news. Regardless of whether PFAS directly affect your business, it is worth understanding what they are and why they have become such a prominent topic.

What Are PFAS and Where Are They Found?

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a large group of synthetic chemicals that include thousands of structures. According to PubChem, as many as seven million such chemicals may exist. They share one common feature: the presence of multiple highly stable carbon–fluorine bonds that make them extremely resistant to degradation. This exceptional persistence has earned them the nickname “forever chemicals”, as they barely break down in the environment.

Under the current definition, PFAS include substances containing alkyl groups in which all—or many—hydrogen atoms have been replaced with fluorine.

One of the most well-known compounds from this group is Teflon, invented in 1938, which popularised the industrial use of PFAS. It became widely used as a coating resistant to heat, oil, and water.

Today, PFAS are used in waterproof textiles, paints, furniture, adhesives, food packaging and many other everyday products. Their ubiquity, combined with their exceptional stability, has attracted the attention of researchers.

Why PFAS Are a Growing Concern

Research has shown that PFAS are widely present in the environment as well as in human bodies. Some studies, such as a 2021 publication by Stockholm University, revealed that PFAS are not only found in water but can also be transported through the air, contributing to air pollution and later reaching soil and groundwater through precipitation.

Due to their persistence and long biological half-life (PFAS can remain in the human body for several years before being excreted), these substances tend to bioaccumulate and biomagnify, reaching levels that may affect the environment and human health.

Although research on the health and environmental effects of PFAS is still ongoing, exposure has already been associated with, among other impacts:

• An increased risk of certain cancers (e.g., kidney or testicular cancer)
• Effects on the endocrine system and fertility
• Disruption of lipid metabolism

These findings have prompted legislators around the world to act. Scientific committees and regulatory bodies are now working on measures to limit or eliminate PFAS from production and use, in order to reduce their environmental presence and, consequently, their potential impact on human health.

Regulation and Control of PFAS

As mentioned earlier, both the European Union and other global economies are gradually banning PFAS, particularly in consumer applications. In the EU, PFAS limits in food have applied since 2023, and further regulations aim to reduce their presence in other product categories. For industry, monitoring the evolving PFAS regulatory landscape and preparing for upcoming requirements is crucial. These rules will affect a wide range of sectors, including chemicals, food production, furniture, and toys.

Regulatory control of PFAS began as early as 2009, when perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and its derivatives were added to the Stockholm Convention for global phase-out. Further substances have been added since then. In parallel, the REACH Regulation introduced multiple restrictions on PFAS compounds.

Work on broader PFAS control is ongoing, but remains challenging due to the sheer size and diversity of the PFAS group, which makes it difficult to design a regulatory approach covering all substances in a consistent way.

You can follow the development of EU PFAS restrictions here:
https://echa.europa.eu/pl/hot-topics/perfluoroalkyl-chemicals-pfas