The EA's Role with PFAS 'Forever Chemicals'
Chemicals of Concern
‘Chemicals of concern’ are substances that pose potential risks to human health or the environment due to their hazardous properties. These chemicals can be found in some consumer products, industrial processes, and environmental emissions – for example in medical devices, electronics manufacturing and in the nuclear and aerospace industries.
The impact of chemicals on the environment can take time to understand. For example, we may know a substance is persistent in the environment which may increase the likelihood of exposure, but further data about where these chemicals might be found is lacking. As well as novel chemicals coming onto the market, new evidence of hazards and risks for existing chemicals continues to develop globally. Understanding and acting on risks is further complicated by factors like climate change which can change the way chemicals act, and the combined pressure of multiple chemicals in the environment, known as the ‘mixtures effect’.
An overview of the Environment Agency’s regulation of chemicals
The Environment Agency regulates chemicals in the environment for England, working to protect the environment and human health by assessing chemical risks to the environment, monitoring emissions, implementing controls on industry and enforcing regulations.
We regulate a wide range of business activities - including chemical manufacturing, waste management, and water discharges - and enforce regulatory compliance.
Our work supports the statutory duties of other public regulators and councils across the country.
We also look at the impacts of chemicals on the environment and use this knowledge to identify where and how to intervene to reduce those impacts.
Whether we have a direct or indirect regulatory role, we take action to bring about change to lessen the impact on the environment.
Multiple public bodies have responsibilities for chemicals across the UK, with the Environment Agency being one of the primary regulators for chemicals in England.
The following organisations also have responsibilities around chemicals and PFAS, and more about their roles can be found on their websites below:
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
The Food Standards Agency (FSA)
The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI)
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
What are PFAS?
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of thousands of substances that share common properties, such as being water and oil-resistant. While this makes them useful in a wide range of products – from non-stick pans to fire-fighting foams to cosmetics – concerns have been raised about some PFAS as knowledge about them has increased, which has resulted in specific bans and restrictions, and subsequently new PFAS being developed to replace them. An important characteristic is that PFAS are very persistent in the environment, coining the phrase ‘forever chemicals’.Specifically regarding PFAS chemicals, the EA’s role includes:
ensuring compliance with legislative requirements (where the EA is the competent authority).
monitoring and advising on the state of the environment
providing technical advice to Government to support the development of environmental policy
promoting scientific research in support of these roles
collaborating with others to generate evidence and sharing our evidence with partners who play a role in managing risks from chemicals.
What the EA is doing to manage PFAS emissions
1. Improving Evidence and Monitoring
The Environment Agency is enhancing its understanding of PFAS emissions through nationwide screening and targeted investigations. Using this approach, we have identified potential PFAS source sites such as landfills, fire stations, airports, and industrial facilities. Detailed studies are also underway to better understand PFAS hotspots, gather evidence, and develop tailored management strategies.
The Environment Agency has invested extensively to increase monitoring and analytical capacity for PFAS in surface and groundwater, providing one of the most extensive datasets in the world. We have also undertaken science and evidence reviews, publishing several reports on PFAS risk and management.
Since 2016, the Environment Agency has been monitoring PFOS for Water Framework Directive (WFD) purposes and since 2021 additional capabilities allow the analysis of 45 different PFAS. Since 2021 we have analysed over 11,000 samples from 3,000 sites for PFAS. These data show that 46% of groundwater and 88% of surface water samples contain some level of PFAS. Monitoring fresh and marine fish revealed that all biota samples contain some level of PFAS. All data are available on our water quality archive
We are expanding our capabilities to better detect a wider range of PFAS across England by adopting innovative methods such as Total Oxidisable Precursor Assays (TOPA). In addition, we are exploring approaches to assess ultra-short chain PFAS which are increasingly being investigated globally. We aim to continue to refine and advance our monitoring strategies to stay aligned with the latest developments in environmental science.
2. Strengthening Regulation
To manage PFAS emissions at existing regulated sites we are using our powers under the Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR) 2016 to issue notices and request information in relation to PFAS from operators of high-risk sectors and sites. This is being done in a phased approach due to the complexity and scale of the challenge. The EA also supports the work of the HSE under UK REACH by contributing to restriction dossiers which will help inform potential future restrictions. The EA is also gathering evidence on PFAS levels in landfill leachate and biosolids to understand potential long-term environmental impacts.
3. Addressing Legacy Pollution
Due to the long history of use of some PFAS, there is a legacy of environmental contamination that is challenging to remediate. Work is underway to develop consistent guidance for the remediation of PFAS in soil and groundwater. This includes establishing standards for evaluating clean-up approaches, helping ensure that legacy pollution is managed effectively and safely.
4. PFAS risk screening
The Environment Agency’s PFAS Risk Screening Project has developed a GIS-based tool to help identify and prioritise sites that have the potential to pose environmental risks due to PFAS contamination. The tool integrates our data on potential PFAS sources (such as civilian airfields; military airfields and bases; fire stations/firefighting training sites; and a wide range of industrial sites for example textile and leather, carpets, paper and cardboard manufacture, and metal finishing - chrome plating), environmental sensitivity (e.g. groundwater vulnerability and surface water proximity), and water quality monitoring results. By combining these datasets, the tool generates risk scores for over 40,000 mapped sites across England, enabling targeted investigation and regulatory action. The methodology aligns with UK government guidance on land contamination risk management and supports decisions under regimes like Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the contaminated land regime that is the responsibility of local authorities.
Sources of PFAS
PFAS and fire stations and military/air transport
PFAS have been widely used across multiple industries, including textiles, electronics, and manufacturing. One of the most significant sources of PFAS contamination, however, has been the use of PFAS containing Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) at airports and other sites where fire station training occurred. AFFF historically may have contained PFAS compounds, which were highly effective at extinguishing fuel fires, however they are now known to be persistent and toxic.
These foams were widely used during fire training exercises, emergency responses, and in fire suppression systems, often applied directly to the ground or washed into drains, leading to environmental contamination. As a result, airports and other sites where fire station training has taken place worldwide have become contaminated with PFAS, which are slowly being released into the environment
Foams that contain PFOS and PFOA have been phased out. While other PFAS-based foams can still be used during an incident, the UK and other countries are considering a total ban on all PFAS-containing firefighting foams. The Health and Safety Executive is currently running a public consultation to assess the feasibility and impact of these broader PFAS restrictions.
PFAS and wastewater treatment
PFAS can enter wastewater treatment works (WwTW) from a variety of sources:
Industrial effluents: facilities that manufacture or use PFAS — such as chemical plants, refineries, and textile producers — may discharge PFAS directly into the sewer system.
Domestic sources: everyday products like stain-resistant fabrics, cleaning agents, and personal care items can release PFAS during use and washing, contributing to household wastewater.
Diffuse ingress from contaminated land: PFAS can leach into groundwater or surface water from historic landfills, fire training sites, and other contaminated areas, eventually making their way into treatment systems.
WwTW were not historically designed to fully remove PFAS, meaning these chemicals can pass through the system and be released into the environment via treated effluent or sewage sludge applied to land. This makes WwTW a significant pathway for PFAS pollution — and a key focus for our monitoring and regulation.
As well as PFAS, we also monitor other chemicals such as, but not limited to:
Mercury and some other metals
Persistent Organic Pollutants like flame retardants and Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Human and veterinary pharmaceuticals, such as flea and tick treatments, and some substances used in personal care products
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals
Pesticides and biocides
Phthalates
Our screening database currently contains over 1,600 different chemical substances, and we continue to add new ones as our methods develop. New target compounds are continually being added to the list of substances we screen for.
Our Prioritisation and Early Warning System (PEWS) collects nominations, screens and prioritises emerging substances of concern to help inform policy actions.
The government has published a Chemical hazards compendium - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) where you can read more about individual chemicals and their effects on health and the environment.
Your local authority will hold information on land identified as contaminated land under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in your area.
You can also find out about water monitoring results in your area at Water Data Explorer | Engage Environment Agency
