As part of their ongoing inquiry, the UK Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) recently heard exactly why PFAS experts are worried about the threats we are facing from ‘forever chemicals’ and the lack of strong regulation in the UK. Fidra’s Dr Joanna Cloy, alongside other stakeholders, appeared infront of the EAC to give evidence on the risks we are facing from PFAS and why a universal restriction in the UK is not only possible but essential.
Our message to the Committee was clear: the UK’s current approach to chemical regulation is failing to protect our environment and public health. Only a few minutes into the first session, it became apparent that all three panellists were in agreement about the scale of PFAS contamination we are facing in the UK. Very little is known about the vast majority of PFAS, but those that have been studied in-depth have been associated with signifcant health and environmental concerns, raising the alarm amongst the scientific community about their contunied use. Depsite mounting evidence and growing pressure to phase out PFAS, these ‘forever chemicals’ continue to be used in a wide range of products and industrial processes.
The problem is how we regulate chemicals, including PFAS. Currently, chemical regulation typically takes a substance-by-substance, or ‘one by one’approach, opening the door to regrettable substitution – where harmful substances are replaced with lesser-known alternatives with similar capacity to cause harm. Given PFAS covers more than 10,000 chemicals, taking a substance-by-substance approach is impractical and cannot offer effective proptection in a meaningful timeframe.
Labour MP, Barry Gardiner, was noticeably shocked when presented with evidence of continued PFAS use, in spite of growing health and environmental concerns and the supposed protective function of UK REACH. Professor Michael Depledge, of the European Centre for Environment and Human Health, highlighted that the current problem in the UK is down to a “failure of our regulation“, noting that scientists and industry have known about the potential harms of PFAS for a long time but regulators and Governments have failed to act.
We need the UK Government to take a more precautionary approach to PFAS regulation. Such a change in approach would mean shifting the burden of proof from demonstrating harm to demonstrating safety. As professor Duplege emphasised, “We’re still putting highly persistent chemicals into the environment, and then, after they’ve been there a while, asking ‘are they dangerous?’”
The current regulatory approach also does not fully capture the reality that chemicals exist as complex mixes or cocktails in the environment. Chris Hinchliff, Labour MP, expressed concern over the potential for PFAS to interact with other chemicals in the environment. As Dr Cloy explained, “The combined impact of compounds could have increased risks, compared with the single compounds, or the additive effects of individual compounds. When they are in a mixture, their harm(s) can be exacerbated.”
PFAS uses are so wide reaching that we can’t rely on consumer choice to reduce the environmental burden of PFAS, we need stronger regulation. “The public ask us how they can make their homes PFAS-free, and we have to tell them that it is impossible because PFAS is used in such a diverse range of everyday products“, emphasised Dr Cloy.
Stronger regulation on PFAS will not only increase public protection but also create a level playing field for businesses. This would drive innovation in the rapidly-growing PFAS-free alternatives sector – supporting trade and economic competitiveness. The EU is leading the way on PFAS regulation and is progressing towards a restriction on all 10,000+ PFAS as an entire chemical class. When asked if UK alignment with European on PFAS regulation would be beneficial, Andy Spence, of Brittania Fire Ltd, said “Absolutely. Germany is probably our largest customer, and they are ahead of the game. Alignment would definitely be beneficial to us, as a manufacturer.”
We welcome the Environmental Audit Committee’s timely inquiry into PFAS and look forward to seeing the recommendations made to Government. To find out more – see the full oral evidence session and read Fidra’s written evidence submission.