Petition to Health Minister Lauterbach for an EU-wide PFAS ban | #StopPFAS. BUND blood test: PFAS with concentrations that are hazardous to health. Nobody is safe from PFAS contamination. Also found in food packaging. The German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) tested blood samples
List of PFAS
The Unsettling Reality of PFAS Contamination: A Call for EU-Wide Ban
A recent petition addressed to Health Minister Lauterbach has sparked a wave of concern about the presence of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment, food, and human bodies. The alarming results of a blood test conducted by the German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) have added fuel to the fire, revealing hazardous levels of PFAS concentrations in blood samples.
It is disconcerting to learn that nobody is safe from PFAS contamination. These synthetic chemicals have been found in food packaging, among other things, which means that even the most seemingly innocent activities, such as consuming packaged food, can expose individuals to these toxic substances. The fact that PFAS are found in food packaging is particularly worrisome, as it suggests that the contamination is not limited to industrial sites or areas with known pollution.
The threat posed by PFAS is well-documented. As the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) notes, certain types of PFAS, such as PFOA, have been banned under the POPs Regulation since 2020 [[1]]. Furthermore, in June 2022, the Stockholm Convention parties decided to include PFHxS, its salts, and related substances in the regulation. More recently, a proposal to restrict the manufacture, placing on the market, and use of PFAS on the EU level has been put forward [[2]]. While these efforts are a step in the right direction, the need for a comprehensive EU-wide ban on PFAS cannot be overstated.
The German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) is not alone in its concern about the impact of PFAS on human health and the environment. As companies begin to assess the impact of PFAS on their production value chain, the prospect of a possible EU ban on these substances in 2026 becomes increasingly plausible [[3]]. It is essential that policymakers, businesses, and individuals alike come together to address the issue of PFAS contamination and work towards a safer, healthier future.
The fight against PFAS contamination is not just an environmental or health issue; it is a human rights issue. Everyone deserves the right to live in a world free from toxic substances that can harm their health and well-being. The petition to Health Minister Lauterbach is a clarion call to action, urging policymakers to take immediate and decisive action to protect the public from the dangers of PFAS. As we move forward, it is crucial that we remain vigilant and committed to creating a world where nobody is forced to live with the threat of PFAS contamination hanging over their heads.
