Non-polymer PFAS can build up in blood protein of animals, and is not always removed quickly. This means that predators eating PFAS-contaminated food will have higher levels in their bloodstream, and concentrations can increase up the food chain. Studies suggest that build up of PFAS is similar to those of other Persistent Organic Pollutants such as DDT.PFAS are estimated to be settling in arctic regions at rates of tens to hundreds of kilograms per year (25-850kg per year), depending on the specific PFAS chemical in question. Certain PFAS are released as gases to the environment and are blown a long way by wind and air currents in the atmosphere,. These gas PFAS will over time degrade to more persistent chemicals like PFOS and PFOA. This may be one reason why PFAS of environmental concern have been found in remote regions such as the Arctic as well as near PFAS production sitesPFAS including PFOS and PFOA have been found in air samples around Europe. The chemicals are found in small quantities, but appear in almost all samples tested. PFAS enters the atmosphere both from factories and the air inside our homes. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17554424 PFAS is found in treated waste water from industrial and domestic sources and has been found in both rivers and groundwater. Conventional drinking water processes will not remove PFAS.PFAS-coated clothes that are thrown away will often end up either incinerated or in landfill. Unless incinerated at very high temperatures (>1000oC), fluorinated polymers could release more harmful PFAS during burning. PFAS of environmental concern have also been found in landfill leachate. Non-polymer PFAS are used in the production of fluorinated polymers. The manufacture of stain-resistant finishes generally releases these PFASs into the environment, both by air and water emissions. They are very hard to remove during water treatment. Workers in textiles factories are some of the population most exposed to these potentially harmful chemicals. Small quantities of PFAS will be removed during wash and wear of products containing PFAS. This includes fluorinated polymers used on stain-resistant coatings, and non-polymers that remain on clothes after production (Lassen et al. 2015).Most UK waste still ends up in landfill, and this includes PFAS-containing products. Studies have shown that the liquid coming from landfills (known as leachate) often contain non-polymer PFAS chemicals. In the USA the total quantities were estimated at 563-638 kg in 2013. To properly break down PFAS chemicals high temperature (1000oC or more) incineration is recommended. Incineration of municipal waste does not necessarily reach these temperatures (min temp. required is 850oC), and the incomplete breakdown could release non-polymer PFAS.Wash and wear of clothing that contains PFAS-based stain-resistant or water repellent finishes release PFAS to the environment. Coatings are thought to lose effectiveness after 20-30 washes. This can include non-polymer PFAS, remnant from production or as a break-down product of side-chain polymers (Lassen et al. 2015). The manufacture of stain-resistant finishes releases PFAS into the environment, both by air and water emissions. PFAS are very hard to remove during water treatment. Industrial emissions are estimated to be the biggest source of these chemicals to the environment.
15th April 2025

Restricting PFAS pesticides could help the UK achieve its 10% reduction target.

For the first time, the UK Government has set a specific target for pesticide reduction. The target is based on the environmental impact of pesticides, including their persistence and mobility. PFAS or ‘forever chemicals’ are a group of chemicals still used in UK pesticides that can take centuries to breakdown and cause extensive environmental damage. A restriction on PFAS pesticides, as other countries have proposed, would be a critical step in meeting the UK’s new target and preventing further environmental damage.

Most farmers across the UK rely on pesticides to protect crops and support food production. However, these pesticides can contain harmful chemicals that can pollute the environment, damage soil health and reduce long-term crop yields.

In March this year, the UK Government published their Pesticide National Action Plan, setting out principles for pesticide use across the UK and acknowledging that incorrect or excessive use of pesticides can lead to biodiversity loss. The Plan is split into three major objectives; to encourage integrated pest management rather than reliance on pesticide use; strengthen compliance with regulation; and, crucially, to set clear targets and monitoring to reduce pesticide use.

We welcome this significant update as it marks the first time the UK Government have set a numerical target for pesticide reduction – 10% by 2030. Importantly, this target is not based on the volume of pesticides applied but establishes a goal for reducing the environmental impact from pesticides. This impact is measured using 20 Pesticide Load Indicators, comprising 16 indicators of potential harm and 4 that assess how a pesticide behaves in the environment. Specifically, the behaviour of a pesticide is evaluated based on:

-persistence in soil
-mobility in surface water
-mobility in groundwater
-bioconcentration factor

PFAS, or ‘forever chemicals’, are a group of synthetic organic chemicals that persist in the environment and can be highly mobile. In the UK, 27 pesticides are known to contain PFAS as an active ingredient, designed to disrupt specific biological processes of targeted pest species [1]. However, their disruptive effects can extend far beyond their intended targets.

Many PFAS can persist in the environment for decades and there is no cost-effective method to remove them [2]. Their presence has been shown to impact soil microbial activity, which in turn alters nutrient cycling and can reduce soil health [3]. PFAS can also harm soil-dwelling organisms such as earthworms, which play a crucial role in maintaining soil structure and fertility [4].

Some PFAS, or the substances they break down into, are highly mobile in surface and ground water. One example is TFA (trifluoroacetic acid), a short-chain PFAS that forms when certain PFAS pesticides degrade [5]. TFA easily moves into groundwater and rivers and is now believed to be the most widespread PFAS in the environment [5], [6], [7]. TFA has even been found in bottled mineral water [8].

Figure 1: TFA forms from the environmental breakdown of some PFAS pesticides, where it can contaminate soils, water supplies, crops and harm wildlife.
Figure 1: TFA forms from the environmental breakdown of some PFAS pesticides, where it can contaminate soils, water supplies, crops and harm wildlife.

Lastly, PFAS can accumulate or bioconcentrate in plants and animals. These chemicals can be directly absorbed by crops when applied to land in pesticides, where they can pose risks to pollinators or food safety [9], [10]. Because PFAS are so persistent and can be mobile, PFAS from pesticides can contribute to contamination of animals far and wide. Elevated PFAS levels have been found in several iconic wildlife species such as otters, grey seals, dolphins and gannets [11], [12], [13], [14].

The persistence, mobility and capacity to accumulate of ‘forever chemicals’, means that PFAS pesticides directly contravene the pesticide load indicators within the new National Action Plan. As we can see in figure 2, there has been little progress in the bioconcentration, persistence, mobility and drain flow metrics over the past 12 years (bottom row).

Figure 2: Trends in the 20 pesticide load indicator metrics for arable cropping from 2010 to 2022. Values expressed as percentage (%) change relative to 2010. Shading around the trend lines reflect the 90% confidence interval [15].
Figure 2: Trends in the 20 pesticide load indicator metrics for arable cropping from 2010 to 2022. Values expressed as percentage (%) change relative to 2010. Shading around the trend lines reflect the 90% confidence interval [15].

A ban on PFAS pesticides would be a major step towards achieving the 10% reduction target within the Pesticide National Action Plan, in combination with support of sustainable alternatives such as Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Beyond pesticides however, PFAS are also used in a huge range of consumer products and industrial uses. To ensure effective protection for both public and environmental health, the EU is currently progressing towards a universal restriction of all 10,000+ PFAS. We are calling on the UK Government to restrict PFAS use in pesticides and align with EU chemical regulation, including the proposed universal PFAS restriction, to prevent irreversible health impacts and environmental contamination. Read our PFAS and Pesticides Briefing to find out more.

References

[1]        Fidra, “PFAS Active Substances in UK Pesticides,” Jul. 2024. Accessed: Feb. 05, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.fidra.org.uk/download/pfas-in-uk-pesticides/

[2]        K. Röhler, A. A. Haluska, B. Susset, B. Liu, and P. Grathwohl, “Long-term behavior of PFAS in contaminated agricultural soils in Germany,” J Contam Hydrol, vol. 241, p. 103812, Aug. 2021, doi: 10.1016/J.JCONHYD.2021.103812.

[3]        J. yi Wu, F. ge Ding, Z. wei Shen, Z. lin Hua, and L. Gu, “Linking microbiomes with per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in soil ecosystems: Microbial community assembly, stability, and trophic phylosymbiosis,” Chemosphere, vol. 305, p. 135403, Oct. 2022, doi: 10.1016/J.CHEMOSPHERE.2022.135403.

[4]        B. Wen et al., “Bioavailability of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in biosolids-amended soils to earthworms (Eisenia fetida),” Chemosphere, vol. 118, no. 1, pp. 361–366, Jan. 2015, doi: 10.1016/J.CHEMOSPHERE.2014.08.009.

[5]        H. P. H. Arp, A. Gredelj, J. Glüge, M. Scheringer, and I. T. Cousins, “The Global Threat from the Irreversible Accumulation of Trifluoroacetic Acid (TFA),” Environ Sci Technol, vol. 58, no. 45, pp. 19925–19935, 2024, doi: 10.1021/acs.est.4c06189.

[6]        I. J. Neuwald et al., “Ultra-Short-Chain PFASs in the Sources of German Drinking Water: Prevalent, Overlooked, Difficult to Remove, and Unregulated,” Environ Sci Technol, vol. 56, no. 10, pp. 6380–6390, May 2022, doi: 10.1021/ACS.EST.1C07949/SUPPL_FILE/ES1C07949_SI_002.XLSX.

[7]        S. H. Liang, J. A. Steimling, and M. Chang, “Analysis of ultrashort-chain and short-chain (C1 to C4) per- and polyfluorinated substances in potable and non-potable waters,” Journal of Chromatography Open, vol. 4, p. 100098, Nov. 2023, doi: 10.1016/J.JCOA.2023.100098.

[8]        Pesticide Action Network Europe, “TFA: The ‘Forever Chemical’ in European Mineral Waters.” Accessed: Feb. 03, 2025. [Online]. Available: TFA: The ‘Forever Chemical’ in European Mineral Waters

[9]        Z. Liu et al., “Multiple crop bioaccumulation and human exposure of perfluoroalkyl substances around a mega fluorochemical industrial park, China: Implication for planting optimization and food safety,” Environ Int, vol. 127, pp. 671–684, 2019, doi: 10.1016/J.ENVINT.2019.04.008.

[10]     T. Wright, M. Crompton, D. Bishop, G. Currell, L. Suwal, and B. D. Turner, “Phytoremediation evaluation of forever chemicals using hemp (Cannabis sativa L.): Pollen bioaccumulation and the risk to bees,” Chemosphere, vol. 370, p. 143859, Feb. 2025, doi: 10.1016/J.CHEMOSPHERE.2024.143859.

[11]     E. O’Rourke et al., “Anthropogenic Drivers of Variation in Concentrations of Perfluoroalkyl Substances in Otters (Lutra lutra) from England and Wales,” Environ Sci Technol, vol. 56, no. 3, pp. 1675–1687, Feb. 2022, doi: 10.1021/acs.est.1c05410.

[12]     C. Vendl et al., “Profiling research on PFAS in wildlife: Systematic evidence map and bibliometric analysis,” Ecological Solutions and Evidence, vol. 5, no. 1, p. e12292, Jan. 2024, doi: 10.1002/2688-8319.12292.

[13]     M. G. Pereira, S. Lacorte, L. A. Walker, and R. F. Shore, “Contrasting long term temporal trends in perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in eggs of the northern gannet (Morus bassanus) from two UK colonies,” Science of The Total Environment, vol. 754, p. 141900, Feb. 2021, doi: 10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2020.141900.

[14]     “The Watershed Pollution Map – Watershed Investigations.” Accessed: Apr. 30, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://watershedinvestigations.com/home/find-out-whats-polluting-your-local-rivers-lakes-and-coast/

[15]     “NAP target explainer: a detailed explanation of the Pesticides NAP target and how it will be achieved – GOV.UK.” Accessed: Apr. 30, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-pesticides-national-action-plan-2025/nap-target-explainer-a-detailed-explanation-of-the-pesticides-nap-target-and-how-it-will-be-achieved

Post Views: 276