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Commentary

‘Health before profits’ – Europeans push for a ban on forever chemicals

The strategy of the chemical multinationals is clear: to buy time so they can continue to operate undisturbed. Luckily, eliminating PFAS is not only necessary, but also achievable.

‘Health before profits’ – Europeans push for a ban on forever chemicals
Francesco Romizi
3 min read

PFAS (perfluoroalkyl substances), known as “forever chemicals,” are one of the most serious health and environmental emergencies of our time. Most scientific studies have linked them to a range of serious health problems, including cancer, endocrine disruption, immune system damage and reproductive issues. They are so widespread that, according to recent research, nearly 99 percent of the world's population has traces of them in their blood.

In Italy, the Veneto region is the epicenter of one of the most severe PFAS contaminations in the world. The case of the Miteni chemical plant and the environmental disaster it caused in the region has made it clear that these substances can poison entire communities. At the European level, damages are estimated at more than €2 trillion, a cost that continues to grow due to institutional inaction and the power of industrial lobbying. 

An international journalistic investigation, the Forever Lobbying Project, coordinated by the French newspaper Le Monde and whose results were published in recent days by numerous media outlets, has highlighted the role of lobbying by the chemical industry in slowing the adoption of stricter regulations at the European level. Pressure from industry has weakened the REACH regulation, turning an instrument initially designed to protect citizens into a barrier against regulatory progress.

The strategy of the chemical multinationals is clear: to buy time so they can continue to operate undisturbed. For instance, Germany has proven to be a decisive obstacle against banning PFAS, while other countries, including France and the Netherlands, are also caving in to industry demands. In Italy, too, connivance between politics and industry is delaying crucial interventions, so that contaminated communities are at risk of being denied both justice and adequate environmental remediation.

In the face of this emergency coupled with institutional paralysis, civil society is mobilizing. The international campaign Toxic-Free Europe Now, supported by more than 14 organizations, including Italy's ISDE – Physicians for the Environment, and more than 118,000 citizens, has launched a call for making Europe free of toxic chemicals.

Among the coalition’s demands is a universal ban on PFAS, a measure that should include a ban on these substances in everyday products such as toys, cosmetics and materials in contact with food. It also calls for the immediate start of cleanup interventions in polluted areas, accompanied by a continuous monitoring system and health plans for the affected communities. But this is not enough: it is essential that the industry actors responsible for the pollution be held accountable, making them cover the costs of the cleanups and ensure adequate compensation for the harmed citizens. The mobilization will culminate in a week of action at the end of January, involving communities across Europe. The goal is clear: to put pressure on national governments and European institutions to take decisive action and meet their commitments under the Chemical Strategy for Sustainability, which sets the goal of a Europe free of toxic chemicals by 2030. The battle against PFAS is, first and foremost, a matter of social justice. The communities most affected are often those with the fewest resources to protect themselves. For instance, in the Veneto region, entire generations have grown up drinking contaminated water, while local and national institutions have shown themselves incapable of addressing the problem.

During the action week, the main message will be “Health before profits.” Demonstrations and symbolic acts of protest across Europe will serve to bring attention to a simple but often ignored truth: we cannot sacrifice the future of the planet and people's health on the altar of profit.

Eliminating PFAS is not only necessary, but also achievable. Innovative technologies are emerging to replace these substances with safer alternatives. However, without strong political will and collective action, these solutions could remain marginal.

The PFAS case represents a benchmark for the European Union. Its ability to deal with this crisis will determine not only the quality of life of future generations, but also the credibility of the European institutions before the citizens.

Francesco Romizi is public affairs manager at ISDE (Physicians for the Environment).

 
 

 

 


Originally published at https://ilmanifesto.it/la-salute-prima-dei-profitti-appello-per-uneuropa-libera-dalle-sostanze-tossiche on 2025-01-23
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