What are PFAS and how are they dangerous for my health?

Comprising more than 4 700 chemicals, perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of widely used, man-made chemicals that accumulate over time in humans and in the environment. They are known as ‘forever chemicals’ as they are extremely persistent in our environment and bodies. They can lead to health problems such as liver damage, thyroid disease, obesity, fertility issues and cancer. Please consult our briefing on Emerging chemical risks in Europe – PFAS for further information.

The EU’s Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU) is also working on PFAS. HBM4EU is a joint effort of 30 countries, the EEA and the European Commission, co-funded under Horizon 2020. Running from 2017 to 2021, HBM4EU generates knowledge to inform the safe management of chemicals and, thus, protect human health in Europe. You can watch the introductory HBM4EU video here or download a short overview of the project, entitled HBM4EU in brief.

HBM4EU coordinates and promotes human biomonitoring in Europe, and is able to provide stronger evidence of the real exposure of citizens to chemicals. In addition, the project provides a robust interpretation of human biomonitoring data and the possible impact of chemical exposure on human health, using the most up to date scientific tools.

For more information on the PFAS work being developed under HBM4EU, please check its substance webpage. In this webpage, you can find out what products PFAS are used in, what substances are included in the group, their hazardous properties, human-related exposure and the policy questions that HBM4EU will answer with the research being developed.