In February 2025, the environmental organization Greenpeace detected very high concentrations of PFAS in sea foam on the German coast. At 160,000 nanoparticles per liter, the contamination was up to 4,000 times higher than the Danish limit. This continues the trend of higher PFAS levels in aquatic environments. From 2018 to 2022 alone, 47-100% of transitional and coastal waters exceeded the annual average environmental quality standards (EQS) for PFOS, a group of PFAS.
What are PFAS?
PFAS is a group of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances that are used primarily in industry. They have special water-, dirt- and grease-repellent properties. Consumers come into contact with PFAS through many products in their daily lives. Among other things, these substances are found in the non-stick coatings of pans, baking paper, impregnation sprays, fast food packaging and even rain jackets. The main routes of human exposure to PFAS are through food and drinking water. Similar to microplastics, PFAS have already been detected everywhere on the planet – from the deep sea to the polar regions, and in human blood and breast milk.
Are PFAS hazardous?
In contrast to the effects of microplastics in the organism, which are still being researched, the consequences of high PFAS exposure have already been partially researched. In its briefing “Emerging chemical risks in Europe – ‘PFAS’”, the European Environment Agency warned as early as December 2019 of health problems such as liver damage, thyroid disease, obesity, fertility disorders and cancer associated with increased exposure to these so-called “forever chemicals”.
How do PFAS get into the environment?
PFAS, like microplastics, enter the environment via direct and indirect sources. Direct sources include the manufacture of products containing PFAS or the application of contaminated sewage sludge to fields. Indirect sources include the use and disposal of consumer goods, but also the washing of textiles with PFAS. As the name “forever chemical” suggests, PFAS hardly degrade in the environment, if at all – another problematic property that they share with microplastic particles.