EU to Transition Away from PFAS in Firefighting Foams

The European Commission announced in October that it will restrict the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting foams under REACH, the European Union’s regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals. According to the commission, the new measures will ensure “a full transition to PFAS-free firefighting foams in the EU.” PFAS, commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” for their persistence in the environment, function as a surfactant within firefighting foams, forming a film over burning liquids to prevent the release of flammable gases. PFAS exposure in humans has been associated with cancer and immune system effects.

The new restriction is set to take effect after transition periods ranging from one to 10 years for different uses.

“PFAS-free firefighting foams are available and affected operators need sufficient time to smoothly transition to PFAS-free alternatives,” the press release announcing the measures explains. “The Commission has therefore proposed specific transition periods for different sectors.”

The full regulation is available from EUR-Lex, a website that provides access to EU legal documents.

Related: “Chasing a Changing Chemical Market,” an article published in the March 2022 issue of The Synergist, focuses on challenges in researching and managing exposure to PFAS.