The ZeroPFAS II project is about minimizing the spread of PFAS in the Baltic Sea. It will focus on sharing and spreading information on these toxic substances among stakeholders in the region.
PFASs are extremely persistent and resist biological degradation, and studies have shown that they can be linked to harmful health effects such as cancer. Still, they have been widely used in industrial and consumer products for years. This project notes that stricter guidelines will ultimately be implemented by the EU, banning around 200 PFAS substances from February 2023. Nevertheless, there is still a long way to go to implement the ban. One reason is unknown sources of emissions, and another the lack of standard analytical methods, resulting in PFAS usage not being discovered in the supply chains.
Much research has been done on PFAS, but according to the ZeroPFAS II project, industries and municipalities are not paying enough attention to the issue. Against this background, the project wants to promote knowledge sharing and information exchange across the borders. In particular, it will strengthen the Baltic Sea PFAS network which has more than 90 members in seven countries in the region. The activities include three science roadshows and seminars, meetings, proposal preparations, website update and newsletter sending.