Europe's waters under threat from perennial pollutants

Water contamination with "perennial pollutants" is exceeding regulatory thresholds in Europe, exposing the environment and human health to significant risks, the European Environment Agency (EEA) warns. According to a recent report published on Tuesday, these toxic substances, known as PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances), are found in alarming concentrations in most water bodies.

• PFOS, a persistent and ubiquitous problem

"We have a problem with PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, banned in Europe since 2019), which is both persistent and widespread," said Nadia Cerioli, an EEA expert. Between 2018 and 2022, PFOS concentrations in rivers, lakes and coastal waters exceeded environmental quality standards by between 11% and 100%, depending on the region. Classified by the World Health Organization as a "possible carcinogen", PFOS is one of the most widespread PFAS compounds. The report published by the EEA is the first to centralise data on the presence of these substances in Europe, providing a bleak picture of water pollution.

• Regional disparities and monitoring gaps

Of the 22 countries that reported data to the EEA, in Belgium, France and Iceland, all water bodies analysed exceeded safety thresholds. By contrast, in Spain, Ireland, Poland, Croatia and Estonia, less than 20% of the monitored sites recorded exceedances. In contrast, Bulgaria, Latvia and Montenegro did not report any sites with exceedances, suggesting a possible lack of adequate monitoring. "We still need more data to map the contamination and identify hotspots," said Magnus Lofsted, co-author of the report.

• Efforts needed for monitoring and remediation

The report highlights the need to step up efforts to monitor PFAS, using more sensitive methods to detect these substances at very low levels. Although PFOS has been banned in Europe since 2019, questions remain about long-term trends in pollution, given that the data collected is relatively recent, starting in 2011. The European Environment Agency is calling for concerted action to reduce and prevent water contamination, in an effort to protect natural ecosystems and human health. While the report marks an important step in understanding the impact of PFAS, much remains to be done to combat this global phenomenon.