The EU is considering introducing a blanket ban on the man-made chemicals called PFAS because of the risks they pose.
The EU is considering introducing a blanket ban on the man-made chemicals called PFAS because of the risks they pose. Researchers have now found that these substances can even alter the genes of birds before they hatch.
These substances are called ‘forever chemicals’ because they break down very slowly in the natural environment. Some people may know them by the abbreviation PFAS, which stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They are also very abundant.
“These substances are used in hundreds of products, ranging from frying pans and waterproof clothing to firefighting foam, food packaging and stain-resistant coatings,” explained Anne-Fleur Brand, who until recently was a PhD research fellow at NTNU.
Read More: Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Image: Several permanent chemicals called PFAS are already banned. The EU is considering regulating all of them. (Credit: Photo: Silje Peterson, NTNU)
