Four hundred and forty billion euros. That is the cost that European society risks incurring by 2050 if the current levels of contamination from PFAS, the so-called “forever chemicals”, remain unchanged without new regulatory measures. This asymmetry is quantified in the study published by the European Commission on 29 January, Cost of PFAS pollution to our society, which, in over 600 pages, attempts to rekindle a hitherto fragmented debate by systematically estimating the economic impact of widespread contamination affecting water, soil, ecosystems and human health.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances persist for decades in the human body and the environment even after emissions have stopped. It follows that any regulatory delay accumulates future damage and multiplies management costs. According to the study, taking action at the source by 2040 would save around €110 billion, while focusing solely on treating contaminated water would lead to expenditure in excess of €1 trillion.

An open tab for water, ecosystems and health

In use since the 1940s, PFAS have found their way into a wide range of industrial and consumer sectors thanks to their resistance to water, grease and high temperatures. These substances are found in products ranging from paper plates to non-stick pans, food packaging to textiles, and even firefighting foams. The widespread use of PFAS is what makes the economic impact of their contamination so significant, and the consequences are already evident today.

In 2024 alone, the removal of PFAS from raw water intended for human consumption in order to comply with European standards cost €3.8 billion. The elimination of ultra-short-chain PFAS would further increase the bill by another €14-15 billion per year, according to EUREAU, the European federation of national water services associations, in its press release. According to EUREAU's data, the potential impact on the wastewater sector is even greater: “Compliance with the new PFAS limit value for surface water bodies as stipulated in the revised Environmental Quality Standards Directive might lead to an annual cost burden of more than €70 billion for the wastewater sector. Depending on the ambition levels of remediation efforts, total societal costs could reach nearly €2 trillion until 2050.”

Due to a lack of data, these figures do not include the loss of ecosystem services or the impact on the food chain. Yet the environmental effects are far from marginal. PFAS are present at levels above the limits in a large part of European rivers and coasts and represent a potential factor in biodiversity loss.

The political ambition of the EU Commission

The European Commission reiterates the intention to protect the most exposed communities, whilst seeking a balance with industrial needs, until alternatives to PFAS become available for applications considered critical. “Providing clarity on PFAS with bans for consumer uses is a top priority for both citizens and businesses,” said Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Economy. “That is why this is an absolute priority for me to work on this and engage with all relevant stakeholders. Consumers are concerned, and rightly so. This study underlines the urgency to act.”

This position is also linked to personal information made public in October by the Commissioner herself: following a blood test carried out last July to demonstrate the ubiquity of forever chemicals, Roswall “tested positive on 6 out of 13 PFAS. And 3 out of those 6 are officially classified as toxic for reproductive health”. On the health front, PFAS exposure is associated with an increased risk of certain cancers, obesity, liver damage, fertility problems, congenital malformations and thyroid disorders. The most vulnerable groups are identified as newborns, children, workers and communities living near contaminated sites, which number over 23,000 in Europe, according to the Forever Pollution Project.

Regulations already in force and unresolved issues

The EU has already banned some of the most dangerous substances, such as PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS and long-chain PFCAs. In 2024, a ban on PFHxA and related substances in various consumer products was introduced, while in October 2025, progressive restrictions were introduced on all PFAS in firefighting foams, one of the main sources of emissions. In parallel, the revision of the Drinking Water Directive requires Member States to systematically monitor PFAS to ensure compliance with the new limit values.

The decisive step, however, remains the ongoing assessment by the European Chemicals Agency. ECHA is reviewing a proposal for a universal restriction on PFAS, with its opinion expected by the end of 2026, providing the basis for a possible legislative proposal by the Commission. In the meantime, the Chemicals Industry Action Plan, adopted in July 2025, aims to accompany the industrial transition.

Pressure from civil society

For environmental organisations, however, the pace of action is still insufficient given the scale of the problem. Lucille Labayle, Water Quality and Health Policy Officer at Surfrider Foundation Europe, argues: “Today’s study confirms what the science has stated for years: PFAS pollution is a ticking time bomb, and citizens are being left to bear the financial, environmental and public-health costs. Every year of delay locks in deeper contamination, greater harm to ecosystems and communities, and serious damage to the economy. Prevention is not optional — it is the only viable path forward. Europe must act now towards a universal ban of PFAS and strengthen the existing legislation to tackle all sources of PFAS pollution.”

The Ban PFAS Manifesto, endorsed by 118 organisations, among which is Surfrider, also follows this line, calling for the accelerated adoption of ambitious universal restrictions on PFAS currently under evaluation by ECHA.

Cover: Envato image