PFAS were found in the blood of all 24 EU leaders tested including EU Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall and Danish Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke.

This initiative was led by the Danish Ministry of Environment and Gender Equality, alongside the European Environment Bureau and ChemSec. The intention was to demonstrate how widespread PFAS contamination is, highlighting the urgency of the pollution crisis.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of over 10,000 synthetic chemicals that are highly persistent, meaning they take generations to break down in the environment. Exposure to some PFAS has been linked with adverse health impacts, including certain cancers, reduced fertility, and the disruption of the immune system.

13 PFAS were tested for, including PFOA, PFNA, PFHxS and PFOS. The highest concentrations found were of PFOS, which is a globally banned PFAS and is classified as a possible carcinogen. Eight of these substances are already regulated or restricted in the EU.

For everyone tested, the total level of PFAS exposure exceeded 2ng/ml, the value at which the US National Academies recommend a specific medical follow-up. For half of the officials, the contamination detected was above the level at which health impacts cannot be ruled out.

On the same day that the results were released, CHEM Trust and more than 100 other organisations launched the Stop PFAS manifesto. In it, we call for leaders across the EU to take action on PFAS pollution by supporting the universal PFAS restriction. A universal restriction would tackle PFAS as a group, preventing the replacement of banned PFAS with similarly harmful substances.

Read more about the universal PFAS restriction here, and the availability of PFAS alternatives.

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