Per- and polyfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS), nicknamed “eternal pollutants”, represent a class of extremely stable chemical compounds used in many industrial and consumer products. Their persistence in the environment and their potential toxicity raise serious concerns, particularly as regards the contamination of drinking water. This article provides an overview of current knowledge about PFASs, their effects on human health, their presence in different regions of France, and possible solutions for mitigating their impact.
PFASs include thousands of synthetic compounds developed since the 1940s for their hydrophobic, oleophobic and heat-resistant properties. They are found in products as varied as food packaging, textiles, non-stick coatings and fire-fighting foams. Their chemical structure gives them huge stability, making them extremely slow to break down in the environment (in thousands of years), hence their nickname of “eternal pollutants”.
Environmental contamination in France
Several French regions are experiencing significant PFAS contamination, particularly in drinking water.
- Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes[1] [1] : worrying concentrations have been detected, particularly in the south of Lyon and in Haute-Savoie. The ARS has launched a targeted regional monitoring strategy.
- Île-de-France[2] [2] : although national regulations do not incorporate PFAS until 2026, proactive monitoring has already begun.
- Bretagne[3] [3] : local authorities have initiated environmental monitoring in anticipation of future regulatory obligations.
Recent studies have also highlighted the presence of PFAS in the drinking water of major European cities, including Paris, illustrating the cross-border scale of the problem .[4] [4]
Effects on human health[5] [5] ,[6] [6]
PFAS are likely to have deleterious effects on health, even at low doses and in the event of prolonged exposure.
- Endocrine disruption: PFAS interfere with the hormonal system, upsetting physiological balances.
- Carcinogenic effects: some studies suggest an increased risk of certain cancers, although the mechanisms have yet to be elucidated.
- Chronic liver and kidney toxicity: these substances can affect the functioning of the liver and kidneys, with potentially serious consequences.
- Immune deficiency: exposure to PFAS is correlated with a weakening of the immune system, compromising resistance to infection.
Solutions and outlook
In response to this threat, a number of actions are envisaged:
Monitoring and regulation[7] [7]
From 1 January 2026, a quality limit of 0.10 µg/L for the sum of 20 priority PFASs will be introduced into the health monitoring of drinking water. This measure marks a decisive step in the recognition of the problem at regulatory level.
Water treatment technologies[8] [8]
Technical solutions such as reverse osmosis and activated carbon filters can significantly reduce PFAS concentrations. However, their large-scale implementation requires substantial investment and rigorous technical management.
Reduction at source
Reducing the use of PFAS in industrial processes and consumer products is essential. This requires ambitious public policies, the development of less persistent chemical alternatives, and stricter restrictions on their use. To this end, on 20 February 2025, the French National Assembly definitively adopted a law aimed at limiting the presence of PFASs in several products and tightening regulations on industrial discharges into water. This restriction concerns the following products in particular:
- cosmetics,
- wax products (coatings for ski soles),
- clothing textiles, footwear and textile waterproofing agents intended for consumers.
Raising public awareness[9] [9]
Educating the public about the risks associated with PFAS and ways of reducing their exposure (such as the use of household filters) is an important public health lever.
Special case of defence articles
Protective and safety clothing and footwear, particularly those used in the defence and civil security sectors (such as firefighters, law enforcement officers or the army), are not affected by the immediate ban.
This equipment must meet stringent requirements in terms of resistance, impermeability and chemical protection, for which there is currently no equivalent alternative without PFAS.
From 1 January 2030, only products containing PFAS deemed “necessary for essential uses” or “contributing to the exercise of national sovereignty” will still be able to be used, in the absence of an alternative solution.
The law therefore leaves the door open to the limited use of PFAS in cases where personal safety and national defence so require. However, manufacturers will still have to agree to continue production, despite the disappearance of most of their outlets. Otherwise, the supply of PFAS resin could be forced to turn to sources outside the European continent – a prospect in flagrant contradiction with the ambition to strengthen Europe’s sovereignty, particularly in the field of defence.
What about CBRN?
The breathable chemical protective clothing sector uses PFAS resins to ennoble the base fabric (the fabric that is the first to come into contact with the CBRN threat) to give it hydrophobic and oleophobic properties. The chemical toxicant in liquid form will tend to ‘water-repellent’ on the fabric and not to penetrate the fabric, which is the fundamental building block for ensuring liquid protection against toxic warfare agents. There is nothing on the market today that offers a credible alternative to PFAS-based resins.
However, at OUVRY we have not waited for legislative pressure to ban them before taking action:
- use of PFASs that are more environmentally friendly by reducing the carbon/fluorine chain,
- application of the resin with a closed-loop process so that nothing is discharged into the environment: the water leaving the process ultimately contains less PFAS than the water entering, because PFAS are already present in the water used upstream,
- once the treatment has been applied to the filtering suit or filtering gloves, the resin remains throughout the life of the product and obviously there is no ingestion of any part of the textile by the users of our products. At the end of its life, it is reclassified as training equipment or incinerated if the equipment has been contaminated.
Conclusion
PFAS illustrate the contemporary challenges posed by chemical pollution: invisible, persistent, diffuse and potentially toxic. The joint mobilisation of health authorities, researchers, industry and the general public is needed to limit their impact. By combining better monitoring, robust regulatory standards, technological innovation and behavioural change, it is possible to contain this silent threat.
[1] [10] https://www.auvergne-rhone-alpes.ars.sante.fr/pfas-surveillance-dans-leau-de-consommation [11]
[2] [12] https://www.iledefrance.ars.sante.fr/surveillance-des-pfas-dans-leau-de-consommation-humaine-en-region-ile-de-france [13]
[3] [14] https://www.prefectures-regions.gouv.fr/bretagne/Grands-dossiers/Environnement-Suivi-des-PFAS-dans-l-environnement [15]
[4] [16] https://www.lemonde.fr/en/environment/article/2024/07/10/drinking-water-in-paris-and-other-european-cities-contaminated-with-an-unmonitored-forever-chemical_6679968_114.html [17]
[5] [18] https://www.inspq.qc.ca/pfas [19]
[6] [20] https://www.epa.gov/pfas/our-current-understanding-human-health-and-environmental-risks-pfas [21]
[7] [22] https://www.auvergne-rhone-alpes.ars.sante.fr/pfas-surveillance-dans-leau-de-consommation [11]
[8] [23] https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante-canada/services/publications/vie-saine/objectif-qualite-eau-potable-substances-perfluoroalkylees-polyfluoroalkylees.html [24]
[9] [25] https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante-canada/services/publications/vie-saine/objectif-qualite-eau-potable-substances-perfluoroalkylees-polyfluoroalkylees.html [24]