Europe sets its sights on non-stick and stain-resistant perfluorinated chemicals
By 
Rebecca Trager2020-01-14T14:30:00
EU plans to regulate these compounds as a single class, as action on them stalls in the US
EU countries have announced a plan to treat almost 5000 chemicals that fall under the family of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) as one class of compounds instead, and to regulate them under the EU’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals law.
These highly fluorinated synthetic chemicals are used in greaseproof food packaging, non-stick surfaces and water- and stain-resistant textiles, and have been produced around the world since the 1940s. However, the compounds are mobile and extremely persistent and research has linked some of them to significant health problems including reduced immune function, cancer, birth defects and fertility problems.