Shreds of plastic hang from tree branches along the Tiber River in Rome, Italy, on March 25, 2026. MARIE-LAURE MESSANA / AFP
The so-called "forever chemicals" pose a growing risk to health and the environment and should be broadly banned across the European Union (EU), with some exceptions, EU experts said in findings published on Thursday, March 26. Officially called PFAS, for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, the substances are a group of more than 10,000 chemicals used in things like non-stick pans, stain-proof carpets and other common products – and often end up tainting food, water and wildlife.
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Two EU expert committees published findings highlighting the effects of PFAS and calling for widespread restrictions on the substances. "PFAS pose growing risks to people and the environment. They are highly persistent, remaining in the environment for long periods, traveling long distances, contaminating groundwater and soil, while some cause serious health issues, such as cancer and reproductive harm," one of the committees said in a statement accompanying its findings.
