Europe's Drinking Water Contaminated with 'Forever Chemicals'

A network of civil society organizations active in the environmental field has reported that extensive sampling shows drinking water in many parts of Europe is contaminated with 'forever chemicals' and other harmful substances. The primary sources of this contamination are identified as pesticides and chemicals from refrigerators and cooling devices. The organization, named 'European Network for Action on Pesticides' (PAN), had warned in May of this year that the percentage of 'forever chemicals' in the water of rivers, lakes, and natural water reservoirs in Europe has reached alarming levels. The report, published on Wednesday, July 20, is the result of sampling from recent research conducted in many EU countries. 'Forever chemicals' (abbreviated as 'PFAS' in English) refer to chemical compounds that, according to scientific research, are easily transferred and dispersed through water and take centuries to decompose. Their sources include non-stick kitchenware, chemical gases from refrigerators and cooling devices, and most importantly, pesticides. This research has shown that drinking water in homes, as well as bottled water sold, in all 11 countries where sampling was conducted is contaminated with 'forever chemicals.' The report notes that despite the potential negative impacts of 'forever chemicals,' particularly perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on human health, surprisingly little research has been conducted on poisoning caused by these substances. The scientific research conducted by this organization at the Water Technology Center in Karlsruhe, Germany, concluded that out of 36 samples of drinking water from urban plumbing in various European countries, 34 were contaminated, and out of bottled water from 19 companies, at least 12 were contaminated with 'forever chemicals.' The results showed that the percentage of contamination of 'forever chemicals' in household drinking water ranged widely, from undetectable levels to about 4100 nanograms per liter, with an average of about 740 nanograms per liter. For bottled water, this percentage ranged from undetectable levels to 3200 nanograms per liter, with an average of about 278 nanograms per liter. The 'European Network for Action on Pesticides' supported a proposal from the Netherlands National Institute for Public Health, which suggested that 2200 nanograms of 'forever chemicals' per liter of water be set as a health standard for Europe. The group's research also showed that if this standard is used as a baseline, the percentage of contamination of drinking water with 'forever chemicals' varies significantly across different cities and countries in Europe. For example, bottled water in the Austrian market contained 4100 nanograms per liter, while drinking water from urban plumbing in Paris contained 2100 nanograms per liter. According to EU regulations, by 2026, the contamination threshold for drinking water with 'forever chemicals' should not exceed 500 nanograms per liter. The 'European Network for Action on Pesticides' has called for perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to be added to the list of these substances. This organization emphasized in its May report that the EU's neglect of PFAS is regrettable, as the exact level of toxicity produced by this acid is still unclear. New tests conducted on rabbits show that offspring of animals exposed to this acid are born with deformities, raising concerns about the harmful effects of this substance on human health. The 'European Network for Action on Pesticides' described the EU's negligence as a 'political failure' and called for a 'complete ban' on chemical pesticides and a review of the risks of other chemicals such as PFAS that are not on the list of forever chemicals.