Every day, we hear more about the forever chemicals called PFAS in the media. The news often deal with novel research showing the harm PFAS can cause to human health. In medical research, reduced immune system, diminished response to vaccines especially in children, increased cancer risk and blood pressure, decreased fertility already have been connected to PFAS exposure – and the publication of the results often makes headlines.

Another recurring topic is the discovery of PFAS pollution at local level: in drinking water, in a given river or lake or at a food-production site. These are often connected to specific PFAS pollution hotspots, such as a nearby airport or a factory that has used PFAS in their production. Recently, public figures, such as Commissioner Jessika Roswall, went through blood tests for PFAS concentrations and revealed the results to raise awareness. Most people nowadays do have PFAS compounds in their blood while some, due to environmental reasons, have much higher concentrations than others.

Forever chemicals damaging our living environment

PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of man-made chemical compounds which are used in many products because of their properties. They are repellent to water, oil and dirt, and they are very durable under extreme conditions. Therefore, they can be found in e.g. firefighting foams, Teflon, gore-tex, cosmetics and construction products. A growing amount of evidence however shows that exposure to PFAS is harmful for human health and all ecosystems. PFAS are also extremely persistent: they may take centuries to degrade under natural conditions. This is why they have earned the nickname ‘forever chemicals’. Some compare PFAS to the asbestos crisis of past decades: a very beneficial and widely used chemical innovation turned into a health threat which is extremely expensive to get rid of.

Cleaning the environment from PFAS will be an even more demanding task than removing asbestos from buildings because PFAS have already spread to almost all corners of the world. To get started, it is crucial we halt spreading any more PFAS into the environment. REACH legislation is a good basis for prevention work but it should be updated. Further, European Chemicals Agency is preparing a general ban of PFAS compounds; restricting their manufacture, placing on the market, and use, with only few exemptions. The ban is needed because current legislation is lagging behind: when some compounds are forbidden (such as PFOS or PFOA), industry invents others to replace them, but the new compounds may have the same harmful side-effects on human health. Other European level legislation efforts to protect us from PFAS pollution are the updates of the Drinking Water Directive and the Water Framework Directive. These updates set stricter limits for PFAS compounds in water and thus push authorities to act against PFAS pollution in water even with lower concentrations than before.

Cities are on the front line facing PFAS pollution

While the EU is operating with legislation, cities are on the front line facing practical consequences of PFAS pollution. When wide-spread PFAS contamination is detected, it is local authorities who must manage emergency measures and provide solutions. Cities have the legal responsibility to protect the health of citizens and to provide them with key public services. These services include the ones where the operational and financial burden of PFAS contamination is often located: drinking water supply, wastewater treatment, stormwater and groundwater management, air quality, soil monitoring, waste collection and treatment, and land-use planning. Consequently, cities must identify and map polluted sites, monitor pollution continuously, plan and execute remediation operations, communicate with citizens, and work with industries so that they phase out PFAS. 

In the light of this extensive responsibility, the scope of cities’ possibilities to act against PFAS are limited. They cannot control PFAS sources or release to the environment, and they have little means to influence PFAS production and use. In order to ensure that the voice of cities and regions directly impacted by PFAS pollution is heard in ongoing and forthcoming EU policy discussions, Lyon Metropole in France has initiated work to influence European-level policies. The work reflects their shared assessment that PFAS contamination has become a systemic European challenge requiring coordinated and ambitious action at European Union level. In February 2026, the group finalized a position paper which has been distributed among key stakeholders within the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council. Amélie Smethurst, the Lyon Metropole representative in Brussels, tells UBC SCC that Lyon area is facing substantial pollution from PFAS and the local administration has found itself on the frontline in addressing this issue.

“As we started looking at best practices from other European territories, we quickly realised that many other cities and regions were facing similar challenges and were keen to exchange experiences and collaborate to better respond.”
— Amélie Smethurst, Lyon Metropole representative in Brussels

Lyon Metropole also observed that local and regional authorities were largely absent from discussions on PFAS at EU level. This is why they initiated the preparation of the position paper. Amélie Smethurst continues that for “moving forward, there is a clear need not only for stronger regulation to prevent pollution at its source, but also for dedicated support to local and regional authorities managing its consequences. Crucially, cities and regions must be fully included in shaping the European response.” 

In a nutshell, the signatory cities and regions call upon the European Union to:

• Adopt a fast, comprehensive and enforceable ban on PFAS, allowing only strictly limited and time-bound exemptions;
• Accelerate and strengthen the revision of REACH legislation to reinforce the precautionary principle and enable effective regulation of substance groups;
• Ensure strong support for industrial transition, including dedicated funding, research, innovation and capacity-building, particularly for SMEs;
• Establish a harmonised European framework for monitoring, detection and remediation of PFAS contamination;
• Strengthen and simplify the application of the polluter-pays principle;
• Allocate dedicated financial resources within the current and future Multiannual Financial Framework to support local and regional authorities facing the operational and financial impacts of PFAS pollution.
• Create a true multi-level governance, where public authorities at local and regional levels are recognised as key stakeholders in this debate and are included in the decision-making process.

Cities taking the stand

Among the 20 signatories, there are actors from the Baltic Sea Region: UBC members Riga City Municipality, City of Helsinki and City of Turku, and also the Cities of Oslo and Gothenburg. The awareness about PFAS is rising across our region and many organisations and projects have started to tackle the problem.

In order to promote collaboration on the topic at macro-regional level, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute has built the Baltic Sea PFAS network, open to anyone interested in the topic. The network is a knowledge sharing platform, connecting different stakeholders and experts, to improve the understanding of PFAS in waste streams to reduce their emissions to the Baltic Sea. The network meets online on a monthly basis, at Coffee Sessions on Friday afternoon. Invitations to join and to propose topics are sent to registered members.​

At European level, in addition to the position paper, Lyon Metropole has also initiated an informal working group bringing together cities and regions directly affected by PFAS contamination. As of March 2026, over 25 cities and regions are active members of the working group. Through the meetings of the working group, participating local and regional authorities have developed a joint advocacy effort to raise awareness among European institutions about the significant financial burden and far-reaching implications that PFAS pollution currently places on local authorities. The working group has three main objectives: 1) sharing knowledge and good practices, 2) collaborating on EU projects, and 3) developing advocacy actions. 

Want to take action against PFAS pollution?

• Sign the position paper – contact Lotta Lehti (UBC SCC Secretariat)
• Join the cities’ working group on PFAS contamination – contact Lotta Lehti (UBC SCC Secretariat)
• Join the Baltic Sea PFAS Network: Baltic Sea PFAS Network - IVL.se