The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) have brought forward a proposal to restrict the use of all per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in firefighting foams across the EU.
They investigated the environmental and health risks posed by the use of PFASs in firefighting foams and concluded that the risks posed by PFASs are currently not adequately controlled and releases should be minimised.
The PFASs used in firefighting foams have been found to cause lots of cases of environmental contamination in the EU, both in soil and drinking water. These PFASs, or their breakdown products, are often known as forever chemicals and are very persistent, with some of them known to harm human health or the environment.
After the ECHA assessed five different options to control the risks of PFASs in firefighting foams, their preferred option was to ban the placing on the market, use and export of all PFASs in firefighting foams after use or sector-specific transition periods. The transition periods would allow industry the time to replace PFAS-containing foams without compromising on fire safety. During this period those who still use PFAS-based foams must ensure releases to the environment are minimised, and any expired or waste foams will need to be disposed of appropriately.
The restriction would prevent further groundwater and soil contamination and health risks for people and the environment. If this proposal is adopted, the restriction would reduce emissions of PFASs into the environment by more than 13,000 tonnes over 30 years.
The next step is for the ECHA’s scientific Committees for Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis to assess the proposed restriction options and consider the scientific evidence, which will be submitted to the ECHA in January 2023. The European Commission and the Member States will then make a decision on any restrictions and its conditions based on the proposal and opinions of the Committees.
