Research has found that treatment processes meant to decontaminate toxic liquid landfill waste to improve water quality may instead increase levels of harmful forever chemicals.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a family of over 10,000 highly persistent synthetic chemicals. They do not easily break down in the natural environment and will last for generations, giving them the nickname ‘forever chemicals’.

Exposure to some PFAS has been linked to developmental issues, immune system disruption, and other serious health conditions.  People may be exposed to PFAS due to their presence in a wide range of consumer products, including food packaging, non-stick cookware, clothes, and cosmetics.

Landfills are a significant source of PFAS pollution. Certain treatment methods aim to decontaminate the liquid waste, known as leachate, before it reaches rivers and sewers in order to improve water quality.

However, research by Dr David Megson from Manchester Metropolitan University and award-winning journalist Pippa Neill has revealed that some of these processes increase the amount of harmful chemicals in the leachate, including the now-banned forever chemicals PFOA and PFOS. The World Health Organisation recognises PFOA as a class one carcinogen, and PFOS is a suspected carcinogen.

Leachate data from numerous landfills across England were analysed. Roughly 80% of the locations studied showed increases in PFOS content. One sample showed a 1,335% increase in PFOS after decontamination treatment.

The study emphasises the urgent need for action to address PFAS pollution at source. Once these chemicals contaminate our bodies and the environment, they become extremely challenging and costly to remove. We need to turn off the tap on PFAS in order to protect our health and nature.

Dr Shubhi Sharma at CHEM Trust, said:

“PFAS emissions from landfills can contaminate the surrounding groundwater and surface water and are linked to serious health risks, such as kidney and testicular cancer. The UK government must take immediate action to regulate this entire group of PFAS.”

CHEM Trust is calling for the whole group of PFAS chemicals to be urgently restricted both in the EU and the UK. This will help reduce the pollution burden and prevent these chemicals from ending up in landfill in the first place.

Read more on PFAS here.

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