Social and Environmental Costs of “Eternal Chemicals”: EU Study Warns of the Impact of Persistent Pollutants. JAN 29, 2026
- Ana Cunha-Busch
- 17 hours ago
- 2 min read
Social and Environmental Costs of “Eternal Chemicals”: EU Study Warns of the Impact of Persistent Pollutants
A new report commissioned by the European Union warns that the continued presence and use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as “eternal chemicals,” could generate an economic and environmental impact of up to €1.7 trillion by 2050 if pollution from these persistently toxic compounds is not combated by legislation and preventive measures.
These synthetic compounds—used in hundreds of products, from food packaging to waterproof fabrics—do not degrade in nature and accumulate in soils, water, wildlife, and also in human bodies, where they are associated with serious health problems such as immune dysfunction, liver damage, high cholesterol, and various types of cancer.
According to the study, if Europe maintains its current scenario of use and exposure without robust action, the social costs linked to PFAS pollution, especially in public health and environmental impact, could reach approximately €440 billion by 2050—even before including broader costs related to cleaning up contaminated areas and ecological restoration.
The report indicates that a complete halt to the production and use of these substances could reduce these costs to around €330 billion, highlighting that acting at the source of pollution is not only an environmental and public health protection measure, but also advantageous from an economic point of view.
On the other hand, scenarios that prioritize only the remediation of already polluted soils and waters, without prohibiting the use of these compounds, could raise costs to over €1 trillion by mid-century, mainly due to the complexity and cost of decontamination technologies.
The report reinforces that the EU is considering broader bans on PFAS — a group of thousands of compounds — but that the formal presentation of complete rules may be delayed until the end of 2026 while further assessments are completed.
Environmental organizations, researchers, and health entities warn that the urgency of the issue is not only financial but also ecological: PFAS contaminate entire ecosystems and can affect essential nature services, such as the quality of drinking water and the health of agricultural soils, requiring more ambitious legislative and enforcement responses.
The Green Amazon News – International
This text was compiled using public data, scientific reports, and information from meteorological institutions.
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