Ireland is among the EU countries with the fewest protections against potentially dangerous “forever chemicals”, new analysis shows.
A study found that while Ireland followed basic EU regulations on use of the chemicals, it had no national strategy to manage their presence or effects outside of limited circumstances.
PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have been linked to serious health problems including cancers, immune system damage, hormone disruption and thyroid disease.
Thousands of the human-made chemicals exist for use in manufacturing to make industrial equipment, consumer goods and packaging waterproof, stainproof, greaseproof, non-stick or flame retardant.
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They are called forever chemicals because they survive indefinitely in the environment with unlimited potential for damage.
Yet the report by the international NGO, Health and Environmental Alliance (HEAL), which has Irish professionals among its members, found few countries had regulations broad enough to cover all the ways PFAS are used and all the places they end up.
“There is no action plan or strategy dedicated to PFAS in Ireland,” the report found.
Ireland followed basic EU regulations on PFAS relating to consumer goods and food products, but these were limited in scope. Recommended restrictions relating to PFAS and drinking water had not yet been introduced.
“No national measures in other areas (e.g. surface and groundwater, soil, sludge, industrial emissions) were identified in Ireland,” the report stated.
Soil and groundwater containing PFAS were discovered on Dublin Airport lands eight years ago from the use of firefighting foams and the airport authority is still working to decontaminate sites.
Some EU countries have taken a more robust approach to PFAS use and monitoring, with the report highlighting Austria, Denmark and France as the most proactive. Belgium, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands were also found to be strengthening national or regional controls.
The European Commission is considering tightening restrictions on PFAS but the body’s recently proposed approach was criticised by health and environmental groups as too weak.
HEAL is calling for EU-wide restrictions on all PFAS, covering their production and use across all sectors.
The alliance says derogations for essential uses should be strictly limited and regularly reviewed.
HEAL executive director Genon K Jensen stressed the approach must be standardised across all EU countries.
“Fragmented approaches cannot solve a borderless contamination crisis,” he said. “Urgent EU and complementary national action is essential to protect people equally across Europe.”
The Environmental Protection Agency in Ireland has commissioned research to ascertain the extent of PFAS. It has been asked for comment on the HEAL report.
The Department of Environment has also been contacted. It said issues relating to PFAS were the responsibility of multiple departments, including Health, Housing and Enterprise, and it needed time to coordinate a response.
