UN experts warn of systemic risks posed by persistent PFAS pollution

17:45

By: Azzat Manal

UN experts warn of systemic risks posed by persistent PFAS pollution

United Nations experts have warned of the growing global threat posed by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS or “forever chemicals,” calling for urgent international action to restrict their use when they are not essential.

The warning was issued during the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, where independent experts examined the environmental and human rights consequences of widespread exposure to highly persistent synthetic chemicals. PFAS are used in a wide range of industrial and consumer applications because of their resistance to heat, water, oil and chemical degradation.

The substances have become a major environmental concern because many PFAS can remain in the environment for extremely long periods. Once released, they can travel through air and water, spreading far beyond the locations where they were originally produced or used. Their persistence makes contamination difficult to reverse and raises concerns about long-term exposure.

Bethanie Carney Almroth, the new UN Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights, presented findings from a report prepared by her predecessor, Marcos Orellana. The report highlights the difficulty of removing PFAS from contaminated environments once they have become widely dispersed.

PFAS contamination is not limited to industrial areas. The chemicals have been detected in drinking water, food, household products and human populations in different parts of the world. Their widespread use and persistence mean that exposure can occur through several pathways, creating challenges for regulators and public-health authorities.

Scientific research has associated exposure to certain PFAS with a range of health effects. Studies have examined links with immune-system disruption, changes in liver function, hormonal effects and developmental problems. Some PFAS have also been classified by scientific and regulatory bodies as substances of significant health concern, although the risks vary considerably across individual compounds.

Concern is particularly high for exposure during pregnancy and early childhood. Research has detected some PFAS in umbilical cord blood and breast milk, demonstrating that certain compounds can cross biological barriers and reach developing children. Scientists continue to investigate the potential consequences of long-term exposure during critical stages of development.

The UN experts also drew attention to the cumulative nature of chemical pollution. People can be exposed to mixtures of PFAS and other contaminants, including pesticides and heavy metals, through water and food. Assessing the combined effects of multiple chemicals remains a complex scientific and regulatory challenge.

Water contamination was a central concern raised during the discussions. Because PFAS can move through groundwater and surface water, polluted sites can affect communities far from industrial facilities. Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, called for stronger international monitoring and mapping of contaminated water resources.

The issue has also become increasingly linked to environmental justice. PFAS production and use have historically been concentrated in industrialised economies, while the chemicals can spread globally through international trade, waste movements and environmental transport. This can create risks for communities with limited resources to monitor or remediate contamination.

The UN experts have therefore urged governments to adopt a preventive approach rather than waiting for contamination to become widespread before taking action. One of the central recommendations is to restrict or prohibit PFAS applications that are not considered essential to society while maintaining carefully justified uses where alternatives are not yet available.

The experts also highlighted the importance of applying the polluter-pays principle. Under this approach, companies and industries responsible for significant pollution would bear a greater share of the costs associated with monitoring, cleanup and environmental protection. Chemical manufacturing, mining and intensive agricultural activities were among the sectors discussed in connection with broader pollution risks.

The debate reflects a growing international effort to address chemicals that are difficult to contain once released. Governments and regulators face the challenge of balancing the useful properties of PFAS in certain applications with the environmental persistence and potential health risks associated with some members of this large family of chemicals.

For the UN experts, the issue goes beyond environmental protection and is closely connected to fundamental rights, particularly the rights to health, safe water and a clean environment. They argue that preventing unnecessary exposure is more effective than relying solely on technologies designed to clean up contamination after it has already occurred.

As governments consider tighter rules on PFAS, the international discussion is increasingly focused on identifying essential uses, developing safer alternatives and improving monitoring of contaminated areas. The scale and persistence of the chemicals mean that decisions taken today could have consequences for ecosystems and communities for decades to come.