Fluorinated substances pollute for billions of Euros every year | Nordic Co-operation study "The Cost of Inaction"

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The use of PFASs is widespread and these substances are highly persistent in the environment. Almost all people have PFAS in their bodies today. Exposure occurs primarily through contamination of drinking water. However, exposure via other routes also occurs. When these substances are released to the environment, there is a risk of causing long-term problems due to contamination of e.g. surface- and groundwater and at a later stage contamination of drinking water. Health- and environmental problems can therefore be built up and remain for a long time.

Substantial costs

A growing number of health effects have been linked to the exposure of fluorinated substances. The findings indicate that the costs are substantial.

Download the the Cost of Inaction Report here

In Europe and the USA, hundreds of millions of euros have already been spent on upgrading drinking water treatment and remediation of contaminated soil with fluorinated substances. If all the estimated polluted areas were to be treated, similarly the cost for such activities would be between 46 million and 11 billion euros for the Nordic countries. The writers of the report underlines that the uncertainties of the estimations are quite large. However, based on the literature review carried out, there is a firm basis for concluding that the lower bound estimates will be exceeded and that a best estimate in the order of 10-20 billion euros for the whole EEA is plausible for the environmental related costs.