2022-05-12 15:57:28
Why are these compounds of concern and what risks do they pose to our health?
The varied use of these chemical compounds, combined with their very persistent nature leads to contamination of all walks of life : water, air, soil or even sediments. Some accumulate in living organisms and end up in the food chain. Others, more mobile, are transported over very long distances by water or air and can be found as far as the Arctic and Antarctic oceans.
We can thus be exposed to PFAS in our indoor environment, sometimes in our workplace, through our food or even through the drinking water we consume.
Concerning the effects on health, the toxicity of these chemical compounds is multiple: they cause an increase in cholesterol levels, can cause cancer, cause effects on fertility and fetal development. They are also suspected of interfering with the endocrine (thyroid) and immune systems. This effect of PFAS on the immune system was recently highlighted by the EFSA which considers that the decreased immune system response to vaccination constitutes the most critical effect for human health.
How are PFAS regulated?
At an international level
The Stockholm Convention, an international agreement (2001) aimed at regulating certain persistent organic pollutants, regulates several compounds in the PFAS family at the global level: PFOS has been restricted since 2009 and PFOA is prohibited for import, export and to production, since 2020. The perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) family, its salts and related compounds are being considered for upcoming inclusion in the said Convention.
At the European level
In Europe, several actions are underway to complete the Stockholm Convention on other families of perfluorinated compounds.
All European initiatives on the subject have recently been highlighted in the European Union’s strategy for sustainability in the field of chemicals. This strategy is the first step on the path to the “zero pollution” ambition for an environment free of toxic substances announced in the European Green Deal.
Via the REACH 1907/2006 regulation
The strategy specifically mentions PFAS as being ofpriority interest for risk management. In this context, a global restriction of PFAS, carried by 5 member states – Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany – was announced. An analysis is underway to define the contours of this major measure.
Regulations in drinking water
PFAS are one of the new parameters introduced during the overhaul of European directive 2020/2184 of 16/12/2020 relating to the quality of EDCH. So, 20 PFAS are targeted and a quality limit (0.10 µg/L) is set for the sum of these 20 molecules in EDCH. Another more global parameter, entitled “PFAS (total)”, is also introduced with an associated quality limit of 0.50 µg/L.
Furthermore, PFOS and its derivatives appear in the list of priority substances of the water framework directive. They are therefore integrated into the monitoring and control of water bodies at European Union level to improve water quality, both in terms of chemical and ecological status. At the national level, reference should be made to the amended decree of January 25, 2010 establishing the water state monitoring program in application of article R. 212-22 of the environmental code. In this context, PFOS and several other PFAS have been monitored in France in aquatic environments since 2019.
Regulations on materials in contact with foodstuffs
Some PFAS are used in the formulation of food contact materials or MCDA. Currently, there is no definitive list referencing all the PFAS used in these materials. However, in 2020, the OECD carried out work to list the use of these substances in MCDA. These substances are mainly used in paper/cardboard packaging as constituents of waterproof barriers with respect to foods, particularly liquids. The German Health Agency (BfR) has listed 12 substances for this type of application. Concerning MCDA based on plastic material (Regulation 10/2011), the ammonium salt of PFOA is authorized as a technological additive only for use in reusable objects. This substance is also listed in the ESCO list (inventory of substances used by the Member States of the European Union) for use in printing inks.
What work is being carried out by the Agency on these compounds?
The Agency has carried out significant work on PFAS to:
better understand the uses, sources of exposure (PDF) and toxicity (PDF) of these compounds; develop toxicological reference values for certain substances (PDF); evaluate the risk associated with the release of PFOA from the coatings of cooking utensils non-stick kitchen products; establish an inventory of the presence of PFAS in water resources and in water intended for human consumption.
Because these substances cross borders and their monitoring and evaluation require considerable financial resources, studies are now being carried out at the European level and ANSES is involved in the expert committees responsible for evaluating these files within the framework of REACH.
As such, ANSES and INSERM have co-constructed with European partners an ambitious program for monitoring our exposure to chemical substances. The European HBM4EU biomonitoring program includes this large family of substances and has made it possible to define the distribution of exposures in Europe. The objectives of HBM4EU are multiple and will make it possible to answer the questions that regulators are asking regarding this large family: levels of impregnation of populations, development of biomarkers and analytical methods, research on alternatives to substances already banned, etc.
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