Forever Chemicals in Fish Far Exceed EU Limits Across Region
The EU plans tougher restrictions on presence in food of substances that can harm human health
An employee weighs a fresh fish on scales at the Mercat de L'Olivar food market in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, on July 18, 2024.
Photographer: Andrey Rudakov/BloombergThe concentration of a dangerous chemical in fish far exceeds European Union limits in at least seven countries, a report by a network of environmental organizations showed.
Over half of European rivers and almost all coastal waters contain more perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, or PFOS, than the recommended limit under EU water quality rules, according to the European Environmental Bureau. The chemical's presence in food possibly causes cancer and can impact the immune system, cholesterol levels, the liver and birth weight, EU studies found.