The presence of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl, a diverse group of chemicals harmful for humans and the environment, in rivers and, even, supply water at a dangerous level is alarming. A study, conducted by the International Pollutants Elimination Network and the Environment and Social Development Organisation in 2019鈥揗ay 2024, detected the chemicals, commonly known as PFAS or 鈥榝orever chemicals鈥� that are unlikely to degrade easily, in 31 water samples tested in a US laboratory. The study suspects that the chemicals used in industries, mainly tannery and textile, might have contaminated the rivers and entered the water and food chain. What also sounds much alarming is that the chemicals were detected in three out of four tap water samples, at levels higher than the EU standards. The European Union鈥檚 permissible level of PFAS is 4.4 nanograms a litre while the highest level detected in the samples was 300 times higher than the EU limit. Such a high level of the chemicals in water is feared to have a severe impact on humans, animals and the environment. Recent studies show that high concentrations of the chemicals can lead to health problems such as cancer, negative impacts on fertility and foetal development, thyroid diseases, liver and kidney diseases and immune system dysfunction.
PFAS contamination also poses significant risks to ecosystems. The chemicals contaminate soil, water and air. In such a situation, the inaction of authorities is concerning. Although Bangladesh is a party to the Stockholm Convention, which calls for PFAS regulations and health-protective standards, the country has neither banned the chemicals nor set any permissible limit for them. Many countries have taken various regulatory measures to reduce the use of such chemicals and human exposure to them. For example, the European Union has banned the use of PFOS, a type of PFAS, since 2008 and has sought to restrict the use of all such chemicals in all sectors but for essential ones such as medical equipment by 2025. The United States has also set permissible levels of the chemicals in drinking water and initiated action to address any such contamination and exposure. Countries such as Germany, Denmark, Norway and Sweden are pushing to phase out the chemicals by 2030. Some PFAS have, meanwhile, been banned globally under the Stockholm Convention and others are under review for a global ban. In Bangladesh, waste discharge from tannery and textile industries is a major source of the contamination while other sources of exposure include consumer products such as non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, water-repellent clothing, cosmetics and personal care products.
The government must, therefore, recognise and address the environmental and health risks of the chemicals. It must formulate a policy to limit or ban the use of PFAS compounds or products that contain the chemicals, reduce their pollution, conduct further research on the PFAS situation and run awareness campaigns.
