EAC launches inquiry into impact of ‘forever chemicals’
The investigation will examine risks to humans and environment from chemicals found in everyday products, inviting stakeholders to provide written submissions on the topic.
The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has announced that it will be launching a new inquiry to investigate whether the UK’s regulatory approach to Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) is sufficient to address the risks these ‘forever chemicals’ pose to human health and the environment.
The Committee will assess whether enough is being done to fully understand the risks of PFAS in the UK and evaluate if research institutions and the Environment Agency (EA) are adequately equipped to monitor their impact.
Another focus on the inquiry will be comparing the UK’s regulatory framework to other jurisdictions around the world, including the European Union and the United States, where PFAS regulations have typically been more stringent.
"PFAS forever chemicals are prevalent in countless everyday items. News coverage has exposed the level of problems with PFAS, and has shone a light that the UK's regulatory approach is far less active than in many other jurisdictions," said Environmental Audit Committee Chair, Toby Perkins MP.
Under UK REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals), Restrictions currently focus primarily on perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and its salts, as well as certain perfluorinated silane substances, although these represent only a small fraction of PFAS chemicals.
Two recent studies from the Minderoo Foundation and the University of São Paulo raised the alarm on the growing health crisis linked to exposure to microplastics.
Research has indicated that PFAS can lead to a range of serious health issues, including decreased fertility, developmental delays in children, higher risk of certain cancers, and immune system suppression.
Scope of the PFAS inquiry
The Committee has invited written submissions until 26 May 2025, covering various aspects of PFAS usage and regulation. The inquiry will examine the benefits and widespread use of these chemicals, alongside the capacity of UK health and environmental regulators to detect, monitor and understand the risks they pose.
A key focus will be assessing the sophistication of the UK's research base on PFAS science and monitoring technology, as well as how much we know about the way these substances enter the supply chain. The EAC says it plans to look at product ranges, geographical distribution, and the socioeconomic implications of PFAS manufacturing and usage.
The inquiry will also evaluate whether the Environment Agency and other key bodies are adequately resourced to understand and monitor the PFAS threat. Technologies and solutions for treating PFAS pollution will be assessed for cost-effectiveness and efficiency, alongside potential additional risks they might create.
The EAC plans to scrutinise the adequacy of the current regulatory regime, including UK REACH, and will consider whether a precautionary approach to PFAS is more desirable than benefit-risk regulation. Any regulatory divergence among devolved administrations will be examined, with consideration given to the need for a more unified approach.
Looking beyond domestic policy, the inquiry aims to compare the UK's approach with other jurisdictions, particularly the EU and US, to identify potential lessons for regulating PFAS use and disposal. This international comparison will extend to resources for detection, monitoring and treatment of PFAS pollution, as well as funding for research and new technologies.
Perkins added: "The Committee is looking into this important topic to better understand the risks associated with PFAS, and to ask what – if anything – the Government should do to strengthen the UK's approach.”
