Breast Cancer UK for a ban on forever chemicals

What are “forever chemicals”?

“Forever chemicals”, or PFAS, are a group consisting of at least 9,000 different chemicals. They are called “forever chemicals” because they are very stable, do not break down easily and can stay in our environment for a long time. They have recently received much attention in the news because they pollute the environment and may be linked to health issues.

Forever chemicals are used in many consumer products for their water-repellent, greaseproof, stain-resistant and non-stick properties. Raincoats, non-stick pans, food packaging, waterproof cosmetics, dental floss, and stain-resistant furniture are a few examples of where PFAS may be found.

Forever chemicals in the news

PFAS may be released in the environment from the products or during their production. They can then make their way into the food chain and water supplies. The release of PFAS from certain factories has caused large water and soil pollution in some US towns. Contamination near firefighting training grounds can also be significant, due to the use of firefighting foams containing PFAS. Forever chemicals have also contaminated remote places, reaching even the Faroe Islands.

PFAS contamination has also been reported in UK water courses and drinking water. In England, 17 out of 18 raw water sources contain forever chemicals. In England and Wales, restrictions on PFAS in drinking water only apply to a few chemicals, with a limit of 100 ng/L for each chemical. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) explained that the water exceeding legal limits is diluted before reaching our taps to reduce the amount of PFAS in it.

However, the Royal Society of Chemistry believes that current limits may not be enough to protect our health. They have called for stricter limits to align England and Wales more closely to the EU, where the sum of 20 different PFAS cannot exceed 100 ng/L. In the US, where at least 45% of all drinking water was found to be contaminated, new regulations have been introduced setting limits to 4 ng/L for certain PFAS.

Forever chemicals and health issues

Monitoring studies in the US population have found that 99% of sampled Americans have PFAS in their blood. A similar study is taking place in England, with results expected this year.

PFAS can accumulate in the human body and may be linked to several health issues. These include thyroid disease, reduced ability to fight infections, elevated cholesterol, fertility problems and cancer. Studies on the link between breast cancer and forever chemicals have shown that certain PFAS may increase breast cancer risk.

However, it is important to note that most PFAS have never been tested. Therefore, their effects on human health are unknown. This, combined with their extensive use and environmental presence, requires comprehensive and effective policies to protect human health.

Forever chemicals regulations

So far, regulations have only banned a few forever chemicals, including PFOA and PFOS which are persistent pollutants.

Regulating thousands of PFAS is extremely difficult, and the current system needs to be improved. This requires that each chemical is tested for toxicity and regulated individually. To overcome this, a ban on the entire class of PFAS, recognising that all PFAS may be problematic, is needed. In February 2023, 5 European countries backed this approach. A ban on the entire class of PFAS is now under consideration in the EU. In the UK, no measures on PFAS are currently under review, and a plan on how to approach PFAS regulations will only be set out by 2025.

Public awareness, regulation looming worldwide, and legal action in the US have pushed some manufacturers to phase out their production of forever chemicals. However, we are still far from banning all PFAS. We must also remember that forever chemicals will persist in the environment. This means they may continue to affect human health long after they are phased out.

What do we want from the UK Government?

Since Brexit, the UK regulations on chemicals have fallen behind those of the EU. No harmful chemicals have been regulated in the UK since 2020; only two are currently under consideration. Meanwhile, the EU has restricted eight chemicals and has 16 more being evaluated.

Breast Cancer UK, in partnership with CHEMTrust and other NGOs, is calling for a UK Chemicals Strategy, which has been promised by the UK Government since 2019. Breast Cancer UK is one of the organisations calling for 12 Key Asks for the UK Chemical Strategy. This includes a clear timetable for the complete phasing out of forever chemicals. In the meantime, UK regulations should align with the EU to better protect human health and the environment from harmful chemicals. Given the potential damage already caused, the UK Government must adopt a precautionary approach to chemical regulation with immediate effect.

Our partner CHEMTrust says:

“PFAS have contaminated our drinking water, our waterways, and even our bodies. Without action, these forever chemicals are only going to continue to build up in our environment – we need to turn the tap off at the source and move towards a PFAS-free economy. The UK Government must take action to put our health and environment first.  We need a group restriction on PFAS, and to close the divide that’s opening up with EU chemicals legislation by meeting or exceeding chemical protection standards.”

To learn more about PFAS and for a complete list of references, read our PFAS and Breast Cancer review and our PFAS key facts sheet page.

If you want to help us ban harmful chemicals from everyday products, sign our EDC Pledge.

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