‘Forever Chemicals’ poisoning Europe’s waters and fish: The tip of the PFAS iceberg

A new report reveals the shocking extent of PFAS contamination in Europe’s fish and waters. PFAS – also known as “forever chemicals” due to their extreme persistence – are polluting freshwater and coastal ecosystems across the EU, with serious consequences for wildlife and human health.

The report highlights that fish in many European waters contain dangerously high levels of PFOS, one of the most harmful PFAS substances, often exceeding both current and proposed safety limits. Based on data from seven EU countries (2009–2023), the findings show that PFOS contamination is widespread – and likely just the tip of the iceberg.

While the EU proposed stronger PFAS water quality standards in 2022, these have yet to be adopted. Meanwhile, governments are pushing to delay compliance by another decade or more, despite growing evidence that more than half of Europe’s rivers – and nearly all its coastal waters – already exceed PFOS safety thresholds.

This report is a wake-up call: urgent action is needed to protect ecosystems, seafood safety, and public health from the growing threat of forever chemicals.