Concentrations of two highly toxic forever chemicals in English rivers dropped by nearly a third over the past decade following tighter regulatory restrictions, according to Environment Agency figures published on Thursday.
Levels of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) fell by 30% and 29% respectively across England over the last ten years. Fresh-water fish levels saw an even steeper drop, with concentrations falling by 49%.
The regulator attributed the downward trend to stricter limits on product usage after mounting scientific evidence linked the compounds to severe health and environmental harm. PFOS was all but banned in the UK in 2010, followed by PFOA in 2020, after researchers identified connections to tissue damage in animals and elevated rates of conditions such as testicular cancer.
It’s brilliant to see how far we have come in the last 10 years.
Dr David Megson, reader in environmental forensics at Manchester Metropolitan University
Despite the reductions in PFOS and PFOA, there are thought to be around 15,000 other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, although only around 200 are frequently used. Originally developed in the United States during the 1930s for their oil- and water-resistant qualities, these substances earned the moniker forever chemicals because their natural resistance means they take a very long time to break down naturally.
The Environment Agency said that while river concentrations for the two monitored chemicals declined, the overall amount still in the environment is likely to have remained unchanged because the chemicals take so long to break down, having simply been diluted and washed into the sea. To map out contamination levels nationwide, the agency currently conducts routine checks on 60 additional types of PFAS.
The Environment Agency said that its findings “reinforces the need” for regulating all PFAS rather than one by one. Sector representatives have historically resisted this strategy, contending that scarce or non-existent proof shows toxicity in alternative PFAS, and highlighting essential applications like critical medical devices.
Earlier this month the government announced it would begin monitoring levels in people’s bodies. Meanwhile, one of the few ways to permanently destroy PFAS is by high-temperature incineration, with just two such suitable sites in the country currently.
There is a lot to do, and this report provides an essential foundation to support investigations to make the polluters pay for any damage they have caused.
Dr David Megson, reader in environmental forensics at Manchester Metropolitan University
