Forever Chemicals [UPSC Notes]

An Oxford University-led study discovered toxic Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAs) also known as “forever chemicals,” in the ice around Svalbard, Norway, posing a threat to the region’s wildlife. In this context, understand what are forever chemicals or PFAs in this article. This is a topic relevant for the science and technology segment of the UPSC exam.

What are Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAs)?

They are synthetic chemicals that are used to make nonstick cookware, water-repellent clothing, stain-resistant fabrics, cosmetics, firefighting forms, and a variety of other products that are resistant to grease, water, and oil.

• During their production and use, they can migrate to the soil, water, and air.
• Most PFAs do not degrade and remain in the environment for extended periods of time.
• Furthermore, if people and animals are repeatedly exposed to these chemicals, some of them can accumulate in their bodies.
• PFAs are a class of approximately 12,000 chemicals that are commonly found in consumer products. They are also known as “forever chemicals” because they do not naturally degrade over time.
• PFAs are also listed in the Stockholm Convention.

What is the Stockholm Convention?

It is a global treaty designed to safeguard human health and the environment against persistent organic pollutants (POPs). POPs are chemicals that persist in the environment for extended periods of time, become geographically dispersed, accumulate in the fatty tissue of living organisms, and are toxic to humans and wildlife.

• India ratified the Stockholm Convention in 2006 in accordance with Article 25(4), allowing it to maintain a default “opt-out” position in which amendments to the convention’s various Annexes cannot be enforced on it unless an instrument of ratification/acceptance/approval/accession is explicitly deposited with a UN depositary.

Read more on the Stockholm Convention in the linked article.

What is the danger of PFAS?

• These chemicals have been linked to a variety of diseases, including cancer and liver disease. They can cause thyroid disruption, decreased vaccination responses, and other health issues. 
• As a result, once passed on, these contaminants can affect the entire food web, from small organisms like plankton or fish to the region’s apex predators like polar bears.
• Researchers reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in 2021 that people with the highest versus lowest blood levels of one common PFAS and perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, had a more than twofold increase in kidney cancer risk.
• Both humans and wildlife can be poisoned by PFAS. PFOA and PFOS, two of the most studied chemicals in this family, have been shown to interfere with the hormonal system (so they are called endocrine disruptors) and interfere with the reproductive system and foetal development.

Findings and Concerns:

• The Norwegian Arctic ice contains 26 different types of PFAS compounds, which can be passed on to ecosystems such as Arctic fjords and tundra once the ice melts.
• According to the report, high levels of PFAs were discovered in the polar bear’s bloodstream. The study discovered that the levels of these “forever chemicals” in the ice were higher than the US advisory drinking water limits.
• The report noted the “doubling up effect” on animals as climate changes and ice melts, as Svalbard’s climate is reportedly warming faster than the global average.
• The study also discovered high levels of TFA, a refrigeration byproduct caused by hydrofluoroolefin (HFOs) after the phase-out of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), a potent greenhouse gas used in refrigeration.
• Once released, HFOs, which are also greenhouse gases, can degrade into TFA, the levels of which have been increasing in the Arctic, according to the study. Furthermore, TFA and other PFAS compounds are highly mobile and can travel through the atmosphere to any location on the planet. 
• While TFA is said to be less toxic than other PFAs, its limited knowledge needs to be addressed because no one is fully aware of the environmental damage these compounds may be causing.

Way forward:

• Investors with $8 trillion in assets have already written to the world’s largest chemical companies, urging them to phase out the use of so-called “forever chemicals,” which can accumulate in the environment and pose a risk to future generations.
• Companies must be more transparent about their global chemical production and publish a timetable for the phased-out production of Forever Chemicals.
• To completely phase out these chemicals, the government, international organizations, and other stakeholders must develop and implement a policy. For ‘forever chemicals,’ more stringent regulation is required.

Forever Chemicals:- Download PDF Here