A new report from the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) reveals that fish across Europe are contaminated with dangerous levels of PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” posing urgent risks to consumers, fisheries, and policymakers alike.
According to the analysis, titled “Forever chemicals poisoning Europe’s waters and fish: The tip of the PFAS iceberg,” many samples of fish analyzed by researchers exceeded proposed E.U. safety limits for PFOS – the most notorious of this category of man-made chemicals.
EEB said that its findings have put the spotlight on a growing environmental and food safety crisis, highlighting the need for immediate measures to protect both public health and the economic future of the European seafood industry.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a class of synthetic chemicals used in many industrial and consumer products due to their resistance to heat, water, and oil. Nicknamed “forever chemicals” for their persistence in the environment, PFAS accumulate in water, soil, and living organisms over time.
EEB’s report found that fish caught in European waters – from rivers to coastal areas – contain PFOS concentrations that exceed proposed E.U. safety thresholds that are designed to protect consumers from toxic exposure. Chronic exposure to these chemicals has been linked to serious health effects, including cancer, immune system suppression, hormone disruption, and reproductive issues.
Besides consumer risks, contamination of fish with PFAS has major implications for the seafood sector, according to the report.
Consumer confidence in the safety of seafood could be undermined, affecting both local consumption and international export markets, while fisheries and aquaculture producers could face economic consequences if large portions of their catch are deemed non-compliant under upcoming regulations.
“We believe it's important that the PFAS content of fish put on the market is clearly communicated together with clear advice on how much fish adults, children, and infants can safely eat depending on the PFAS content,” EEB Senior Policy Officer of Water Pollution Prevention Sara Johansson told SeafoodSource.
Though upcoming regulations are likely to affect the fisheries sector, Johansson noted that the impacts of PFAS pollution are already being seen, with the report highlighting that serious pollution of the Western Scheldt from the 3M factory in Antwerp, Belgium, beginning in 2021, led to concentrations in fish and seafood exceeding standards set by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment by 800 times.
Following this event, the Dutch Fishermen’s Association called on its members to stop fishing in the eastern part of the Western Scheldt, which has caused the sector economic damage. The Dutch Fishermen’s Association is now taking 3M to court in hope to get financial compensation.
“To the EEB, it's clear that the producers and other actors that put PFAS into the market should bear the financial responsibility,” Johansson said.
Meanwhile, EEB has criticized the E.U.’s deferment of stricter PFAS limits, with E.U. member nations managing to secure a postponed deadline of 2039 for compliance with new coastal and freshwater parameters, with the possibility to derogate until 2045. It argued that this delay is incompatible with the urgent need to protect public health and ecosystems from persistent chemical pollution.
Along with the push for regulatory action, the report also offers practical steps that seafood producers can take to limit PFAS exposure, such as monitoring water quality, evaluating feed inputs in aquaculture, and improving site management practices all featuring as part of a proactive approach to safeguard fish from contamination.
“We believe it would be in the interest of the seafood sector to advocate for a swift and broad E.U.-wide PFAS ban, immediate reviews of PFAS discharge permits, and restricting the use of PFAS-containing products in order to limit further pollution of water and aquatic life,” she said.
EEB is also advocating for coordinated E.U.-wide monitoring programs, transparent reporting, and clear communication with consumers, with the assertion that by providing reliable data on PFAS levels in fish, authorities and producers can help maintain trust in seafood safety and guide informed purchasing decisions.
