PFAS Found in Contaminated Areas Across Sweden
An environmental engineer at the County Administrative Board in Västra Götaland, Anneli Kylén, spoke to the radio about the importance of protecting people’s health in light of the discovery of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in various contaminated areas in Sweden.
The purpose of identifying these contaminated areas is to assess the need for possible remediation. According to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, it is often possible to identify those responsible for the pollution and demand that they clean up. However, removing PFAS from contaminated areas is both challenging and costly.
PFAS substances are commonly used in products such as frying pans, textiles, food packaging, and fire-fighting foam. These substances have been shown to negatively affect health in several ways, including increasing the risk of certain forms of cancer, affecting blood lipids, and interfering with fetal development.
The mapping of PFAS-contaminated areas is part of a government assignment that the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency is conducting in collaboration with several other authorities.
Currently, the Supreme Court is hearing the so-called PFAS case in Ronneby, which deals with instances where a municipal water company is obliged to pay damages to residents who have had their drinking water contaminated with PFAS.
The discovery of PFAS in contaminated areas across Sweden highlights the importance of addressing this issue to protect public health and the environment. The government and relevant authorities are taking steps to address the issue and hold those responsible for the pollution accountable.