From waterproof clothing to frying pans, and cosmetics to food
packaging, PFAS ‘forever chemicals' are prevalent in many
everyday items. But what are the risks of these highly durable
chemicals to humans and the environment?
In a new inquiry, the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) will be
considering Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS),
a family of more than 14,000 man-made chemicals with useful
properties such as being resistant to heat, water, oil and
grease. Due to their properties being unlikely to break down,
they accumulate in the environment and in people's bodies for
decades. Research has indicated that PFAS can lead to a range of
health issues, such as decreased fertility, developmental delays
in children, a higher risk of certain cancers and immune system
suppression.
Members will be considering whether enough is being done to
understand fully the risks of PFAS in the UK and whether research
institutions and the Environment Agency are equipped to monitor
their impact.
The Committee will also examine the UK's regulatory framework for
the use and disposal of PFAS, and will be asking whether UK
registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of
chemicals is adequate. The inquiry will also compare the UK
approach to other jurisdictions around the world, such as the
European Union and the United States of America.
Environmental Audit Committee Chair, MP, said:
“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. 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.”
Terms of reference
The Committee invites written submissions addressing any or all
of the issues raised in the following terms of reference
by 5.00 pm on Monday 26 May 2025:
Understanding the threats and benefits from using
Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl
Substances (PFAS)
- What benefits do PFAS provide and how widely are they used?
- To what extent are UK health and environmental regulators
equipped to detect, monitor and understand the risks posed by
PFAS?
- How developed is the UK's research base on the science of
PFAS and the technology required to monitor their current and
future impact?
- How sophisticated is current knowledge of how and where PFAS
enter the supply chain?
- What is the current understanding of how PFAS are made
and then used in terms of product ranges, and geographical
and socioeconomic distribution?
- To what extent are the Environment Agency, and other relevant
UK bodies and research institutions, resourced to understand the
current threat posed by PFAS and to monitor their impact going
forward?
The current status of measures to address PFAS
-
What are the current technologies and solutions to treat
PFAS pollution, how cost effective and efficient are they and
do they create additional risks?
-
7. How well equipped is the UK's research and development
(R&D) base to improve existing approaches to dealing with
PFAS?
Is the current regulatory regime for PFAS fit for
purpose?
-
Is the current regulatory regime for the use and disposal
of PFAS, including UK registration, evaluation, authorisation
and restriction of chemicals (UK Reach), adequate? If not, how
can it be improved?
- Is a precautionary approach to PFAS desirable or is an
approach that uses regulation to assess their benefits and risks
more appropriate?
- Is there any regulatory divergence across the UK in terms of
PFAS? If so, what are the implications, and is there a need for a
more joined-up approach?
- How do other jurisdictions around the world, including the EU
and US, regulate PFAS use and disposal, and what lessons, if any,
can the UK learn?
What lessons can the UK learn from other countries on how
they monitor and treat PFAS?
- What lessons can the UK learn from other countries in terms
of resourcing and supporting the detection, monitoring and
treatment of PFAS pollution?
- How does the UK compare to other countries in terms of
funding research and new technologies to improve outcomes?
