Environmental campaigners have strongly criticised the UK government's newly released action plan for tackling per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (Pfas), describing it as a "crushingly disappointing" framework that risks causing decades of avoidable harm to both human health and the environment.
Government's Framework for Pfas Management
The government has stated that its Pfas action plan establishes a "clear framework" for coordinated efforts to understand the sources, spread, and methods for reducing public and environmental exposure to these persistent chemicals. Emma Hardy, the environment minister responsible for chemical pollution, emphasised that Pfas present a long-term challenge not only to human health but also to the nation's vital ecosystems, pledging that the government would "act decisively to reduce their harmful effects".
Key Measures Proposed
The plan includes several specific initiatives aimed at addressing the Pfas issue. These measures encompass the launch of a consultation on setting statutory limits for Pfas in England's public water supply regulations, enhanced testing and monitoring of estuaries and coastal waters, investigations into food packaging to determine Pfas content, and the creation of a public awareness website to improve understanding of the risks.
Campaigners' Criticisms and Comparisons
However, environmental experts and campaigners have labelled the plan as "incredibly weak", arguing that it falls significantly short of more robust actions taken in European countries. Chloe Alexander, chemicals policy lead at Wildlife and Countryside Link, pointed out that the UK's approach ducks hard decisions and lacks the ambition seen in nations like Denmark and France, which have already implemented bans on Pfas in certain consumer products such as clothing and cosmetics, alongside efforts to clean up contaminated sites.
Scientific Perspectives on the Plan
Shubhi Sharma, a scientific researcher at Chem Trust, criticised the government's focus on gathering more information as redundant and a delaying tactic, stating that "action has been deferred to an indefinite date in the future". In contrast, Dr Mohamed Abdallah, chair in environmental chemistry at the University of Birmingham, expressed encouragement at the UK's holistic approach to regulating Pfas to minimise harmful effects before it is too late.
Professor Patrick Byrne, reader in hydrology and environmental pollution at Liverpool John Moores University, highlighted a major blind spot in the plan: the lack of knowledge about the total amounts of Pfas entering the environment or their specific sources. He argued that simply measuring concentrations or increasing monitoring, as suggested, is insufficient; instead, measuring Pfas loads from different industries and contaminated sites is crucial to identify major polluters and target cleanup efforts effectively.
The Pervasive Nature of Pfas
Pfas, often referred to as "forever chemicals" due to their indestructible properties and chemical bonds that can persist for tens of thousands of years, are already believed to be present in the blood of every person on the planet. These man-made substances are used in a wide array of consumer products, from waterproof clothing to electronics, prized for their non-stick and durable characteristics.
Health and Environmental Risks
Emerging evidence links Pfas to multiple harms to human and environmental health, with research associating some of the most widely used chemicals in the past with various forms of cancer, leading to their near-total ban. Recent studies have found that almost all English waters exceed proposed safety limits for Pfas, and wildlife across the UK, including dolphins, otters, porpoises, fish, and birds, have been found to contain these chemicals in their tissues and organs.
As the EU moves towards imposing bloc-wide restrictions on Pfas use, the UK's plan has sparked debate over whether it goes far enough to protect public health and the environment from these persistent pollutants.
