A number of governments are calling on the European Commission to ban the chemical perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) because it may cause liver damage and distort reproductive functions. PFOS is a persistent organic pollutant (POP) because it is bioaccumulative and does not break down in the environment.

Sweden – pushing to ban PFOS in Europe
In July 2005 the Swedish government filed a national ban on PFOS with the European Commission. “My hope is that more EU countries will go ahead with national bans and that this will pressure the Commission into an EU-wide ban”, said Environment Minister Lena Sommestad in proposing the ban.

As well as trying to get agreement from other countries for a Swedish ban the Swedish Ministry of Sustainable Development has been holding discussions with other EU Member States to gather general support to nominate PFOS to the Stockholm Convention which regulates POPs globally.

It looks as this move could be successful. Speaking to WWF on October 20 Monica Tornlund from the Ministry of Sustainable Development explained: “Following recent discussions in Brussels, we are hopeful that the Commission will come up with a proposal for an EU ban on PFOS before the end of 2005”.

The Swedish government has explained that “very high rates of PFOS have been found in polar bears, polar foxes, eagles and seals…In animals, low doses have had effects on the liver and have disturbed wildlife’s reproductive capabilities.”

In a research paper prepared for the Ministry - PFOS-related substances – a strategy for a phase-out, the Swedish Chemicals Inspectorate (KEMI) proposed the ban and restrictions on the chemical because, as it explained, “PFOS is very persistent in the environment – to a greater extent than the well known environmental toxins, PCB and DDT”.

KEMI’s paper revealed that PFOS is present in the Swedish Lake Mälaren, and high concentrations of it have been found in seals in the Gulf of Bothnia. PFOS has a long range and polar bears in the Arctic also have traces of the chemical* .
UK – also concerned that PFOS still being used
The United Kingdom is another government to take action against PFOS. In October 2004, the United Kingdom’s Department of Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) proposed a multilateral ban on PFOS using national regulations. The UK ban is also waiting for European approval.

When he presented the proposed ban, DEFRA Minister Alun Michael said, “PFOS clearly meets the criteria for a chemical of high concern and presents a real and significant risk to the health of the population and the environment in the UK. I am concerned that a substance with these intrinsic properties is still being used.”

REACH and a restriction of PFOS use
While a European and world ban on PFOS is a move in the right direction to control the spread of dangerous chemicals, a more comprehensive approach is needed, through the use of systematic regulations as envisaged in the REACH legislation, say the Swedes.

“Within REACH, PFOS is a prime candidate for a chemical that needs to be authorised before it should be used, as would all the POPs”, said a spokeswoman from the Ministry of Sustainable Development. “A priority for the Swedish government is to find safer chemicals that could be substituted for potentially hazardous chemicals, such as PFOS”.

However, because of the serious concern about the current effects of PFOS, the Swedish government would like to see action now for a ban, rather than wait for negotiations over REACH to be completed.
* Because polar bears are at the top of the Arctic food chain they are a sentinel species for showing the impact of chemicals that have been transported over long distances.