On January 29, 2026, the European Commission released its final report, “The cost of PFAS pollution for our society.” The study aimed to provide information about the monetary costs of pollution with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to society, based on the latest data related to their impacts on environmental and human health.
PFAS are a class of synthetic chemicals that are broadly used in industrial and consumer applications for their ability to resist heat, water, and oil. However, they are persistent and bioaccumulative and have been detected across human populations and throughout the environment (FPF reported and here). Furthermore, scientific evidence demonstrates that PFAS are associated with serious health risks (FPF reported and here). As a result, PFAS are under increased regulatory scrutiny worldwide (FPF reported).
The analysis focused on four legacy PFAS: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA; CAS 335-67-1), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS; CAS 1763-23-1), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS; CAS 355-46-4), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA; CAS 375-95-1).
Estimating the potential cost of PFAS in the EU
The study examined four different scenarios for managing PFAS pollution in the European Economic Area from 2024 to 2040 and their potential costs:
- Taking a business-as-usual approach would lead to approximately €440 billion in combined health costs and soil remediation and water treatment costs, with additional, potentially significant, and increasing impacts on ecosystem services (the benefits that humans derive from the environment).
- Fully complying with the Drinking Water Directive would lead to similar health costs as the business-as-usual approach since drinking water accounts for only a small fraction of human exposure. However, it would lead to slightly higher water treatment costs.
- Meeting the Environmental Quality Standards and Groundwater Directives for surface and groundwater would lead to almost €1.5 trillion in soil remediation and water treatment costs and would lower ecosystem service impacts long-term.
- Tackling PFAS at the source by 2040 would eliminate the health costs of legacy PFAS in the 2040s and lead to €110 billion in savings compared with the business-as-usual approach.
These estimates are conservative as the study faced several limitations related to the lack of data about the full health and environmental impacts of PFAS. For example, the authors highlight that evidence of exposure has been found for 17 PFAS when people in Europe could be exposed to as many as 10,000 PFAS. They also note that there is limited understanding about the mixture or cumulative effects of PFAS exposure.
The cost estimations will help inform ongoing EU discussions about PFAS-related topics, including pollution remediation, reduction of emissions at source, monitoring, and research needs. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is currently conducting a scientific evaluation of the proposed PFAS restrictions within the EU’s REACH regulations, with plans to complete this work by the end of 2026 (FPF reported).
Global action on PFAS
The European Commission’s final PFAS pollution report comes as other jurisdictions around the world continue to restrict and regulate PFAS use based on the current understanding of their health and environmental impacts.
- On December 25, 2025, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China issued the revised List of Priority Controlled Chemicals (Third Batch), adding a variety of PFAS. The list identifies substances that are subject to stricter production and use restrictions because they pose risks to human health or the environment.
- On December 31, 2025, the Government of Canada updated its Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, limiting the use of flame retardants and restricting the use of specific PFAS.
- On January 12, 2026, the US State of New Jersey adopted Senate Bill 1042 to restrict the intentional use of PFAS in carpets and fabric treatments, cosmetics, and plant fiber-based food packaging, and require labelling for cookware that contains PFAS.
- On January 23, 2026, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration shared its list of priorities for its Human Food Program over the coming year, which includes studying consumer exposure to PFAS in food and baby formula.
References
European Commission (January 29, 2026). “The cost of PFAS pollution for our society.”
Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China (December 29, 2025). “Announcement on the release of the “List of Priority Controlled Chemicals (Third Batch)”.” (in Chinese).
Government of Canada (December 12, 2025). “Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2025: SOR/2025-270.”
State of New Jersey (January 12, 2026). “New Jersey Senate Bill 1042 (Prior Session Legislation).”LegiScan
U.S. Food & Drug Administration (January 27, 2026). “Human Foods Program 2026 Priority Deliverables.”
Read more
European Commission Directorate-General for Environment (January 29, 2026). “New study confirms huge and growing costs of PFAS pollution.”
Alison Carter (January 5, 2026). “China issues latest list of priority controlled chemicals.” Chemical Watch News & Insight.
Terry Hyland (January 7, 2026). “Canada finalises long-awaited rule to restrict flame retardants DP and DBDPE.” Chemical Watch News & Insight.
Bobby DeMuro (January 14, 2026). “New Jersey bans PFAS in carpets and fabric treatments, cosmetics and food packaging.” Chemical Watch News & Insight.
Terry Hyland (January 27, 2026). “Food chemical safety tops US FDA’s list of 2026 priorities.” Chemical Watch News & Insight.
