Europe Faces Trillions in Costs to Address PFAS Pollution

A groundbreaking investigation estimates up to €2 trillion over 20 years to clean up widespread contamination from 'forever chemicals'.

PFAS, or 'forever chemicals', are nearly indestructible substances linked to cancer, infertility, and environmental harm, found in water, soil, and consumer products.
The Forever Lobbying Project, involving 46 journalists across 16 countries, estimates cleanup costs between €95 billion and €2 trillion over two decades, depending on the scope of efforts.
Priority sites for remediation include contaminated water supplies, landfills, industrial sites, and areas impacted by firefighting foams, with current costs already straining budgets.
Experts emphasize the urgency of banning PFAS to prevent further contamination, as existing cleanup technologies are costly, energy-intensive, and often insufficient.
Industrial lobbying and regulatory gaps are cited as barriers to action, with calls for stricter controls and funding for more effective remediation technologies.