Forever Chemicals: Why are they still allowed in India while Europe bans them?

Synopsis: Despite links to cancers and 191% higher infant mortality, India allows PFAS with minimal regulation, while Europe bans them after 14.3% teenagers exceeded safety limits across water and food.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as “forever chemicals,” are a large group of synthetic organofluorine compounds with multiple fluorine atoms attached to an alkyl chain. Over 10,000 of these chemicals exist, and they are highly persistent in the environment, hardly degrading naturally.

First introduced with the invention of Teflon in 1938, PFAS were designed to create fluoropolymer coatings that resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. Due to their persistence, these chemicals have been detected in the blood and breastmilk of humans and wildlife globally.

How Are They Formed?

Forever chemicals, or PFAS, are created through industrial chemical processes that attach strong carbon-fluorine bonds to organic molecules. These bonds make the chemicals resistant to heat, water, and oil, giving them their desirable properties for products like non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, and firefighting foams.

Because of this chemical stability, PFAS do not easily break down in the environment or in living organisms, which is why they persist for decades and are extremely difficult to remove once released.

Uses of Forever Chemicals

PFAS are widely used in everyday consumer products because of their water- and grease-repelling properties. They are found in non-stick cookware, waterproof textiles such as outdoor clothing, carpets, and mattresses, and paper or cardboard food packaging like takeaway containers, pizza boxes, and popcorn bags.

Additionally, PFAS are used in some cosmetics, including sunscreen, foundation, and hair products, as well as in electronics like smartphones. Their versatility has made them common across numerous industries, despite growing concerns about their environmental and health impacts.

Harmful Effects of Forever Chemicals

• Highly persistent in nature: PFAS do not break down easily and remain in water, soil, air, and rain for decades, leading to widespread environmental contamination.  They have been detected even in remote regions such as the Arctic and Antarctica, highlighting their far-reaching impact.
• Accumulate in living organisms: These chemicals build up in the human body and in animals over time and increase in concentration as they move up the food chain. Some PFAS remain in the human body for several years, increasing the risk of long-term health effects.
• Serious health impacts: Exposure has been linked to liver damage, certain cancers, thyroid disorders, high cholesterol, and weakened immune response.
• Risks to pregnancy and children: PFAS are associated with fertility issues, pregnancy complications, low birth weight, and developmental problems in infants and children.

PFAS Exposure to Infant Health Risks

A recent study published by PNAS highlights the deadly impact of PFAS or forever chemicals on infants in New Hampshire. Researchers analyzing around 11,000 births found a 191% higher infant mortality rate among babies whose mothers consumed groundwater downstream of PFAS-contaminated sites, along with higher rates of very preterm births and very low birthweight.

The study underscores the urgent need for stricter drinking-water regulations, mandatory industrial monitoring, and large-scale cleanup, as even low-level chronic exposure poses serious risks to the most vulnerable populations.

Why Is Europe Planning to Ban Forever Chemicals (PFAS)?

Widespread Health and Environmental Exposure

PFAS have been detected across Europe in blood, food, drinking water, soil, and air, often above safety limits. European Environment Agency data shows 14.3% of teenagers across nine countries exceeded safe PFAS levels, with exposure as high as 23.8% in France. Studies link long-term exposure to liver damage, high cholesterol, weakened immunity, low birth weight, fertility issues, and cancers. In the Netherlands, PFAS were found in 100% of 1,500 blood samples, mostly above health-based limits, indicating near-universal exposure.

Industrial Pollution and High Social Costs

Multiple contamination scandals have intensified public pressure. In Belgium, delayed disclosure near a military base led to large-scale blood testing of residents. In Italy, executives received jail sentences of up to 17 years for polluting drinking water and soil across nearly 200 sq km. In Flanders (Belgium), 3M agreed to a €571 million cleanup deal. Several regions in France have even banned tap water consumption after abnormal PFAS levels were detected.

Regulatory Shift Toward Prevention

France has led action by banning PFAS in cosmetics, clothing, shoes, and ski waxes from 2026, with a broader textile ban by 2030, alongside nationwide water monitoring. At the EU level, five countries proposed a blanket PFAS ban in 2023, now under scientific review until 2026. While limited exemptions may remain for critical industrial uses, the EU increasingly views prevention as essential, as cleanup is costly and often ineffective once PFAS spreads globally.

Indian Forever Chemicals Makers

In India, a few chemical companies make fluorine-based chemicals, which are linked to or similar to “forever chemicals” used mainly for industrial purposes. Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd (GFL) is a leading Indian company that produces fluoropolymers such as PTFE and PFA, along with other fluorine chemicals and refrigerants. SRF Ltd is another major player, manufacturing fluorochemicals including fluoropolymers, refrigerants, and HFC blends. Apart from these, there are several other domestic and global players operating in India that are also involved in fluorochemical manufacturing and supply.

Harmful Effects of Forever Chemicals in India

According to IPEN Report

Forever chemicals, or PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), remain largely unregulated in India, despite their inclusion in global restriction lists under the Stockholm Convention. While India became a Party to the Convention in 2006, it has not accepted amendments that list PFOS and other PFAS substances, leaving them unmonitored and widespread in the environment.

Contamination of Breast Milk

A 2008 study found significant PFAS levels, including PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, and PFBS, in the breast milk of women from Chidambaram, Kolkata, and Chennai. Average PFOS levels were 46 ppt, more than twice the US drinking water health advisory limit of 20 ppt, while PFOA levels were over 16 times higher. This indicates that infants are exposed to these persistent chemicals from early life.

PFAS in Rivers, Groundwater, and Drinking Water

PFAS contamination is widespread in India’s water systems. A 2016 study detected 15 PFAS compounds in the Ganges River, with PFOS and PFOA discharges totaling 240 g/day and 210 g/day, respectively, across a population of 400 million.

Groundwater used for drinking and irrigation is frequently polluted, with short-chain PFAS such as PFHxS detected at 81 ppt, four times higher than the US advisory limit. Studies in other rivers like Noyyal and Cooum also show significant contamination from industrial activities.

PFAS in Fish and Wildlife

PFAS accumulates through the food chain. Fish from the Ganges River contained PFOS, PFOA, and other PFAS, while river dolphins showed high levels of PFUnDA, PFDA, and PFNA. Similarly, pigs living near waste dumps in Chennai were heavily contaminated, particularly female pigs and piglets, showing bioaccumulation in animals exposed to polluted sites.

PFAS Travels Beyond India

PFAS pollution from India affects neighboring regions. A 2019 study found that 70% of PFAS in snow in western China is contributed by the Indian Monsoon, with additional PFAS detected in Tibet and the snow pack of Lake Namco, showing long-range environmental transport.

Deep Groundwater and Airborne PFAS

PFAS contamination reaches deep aquifers over 100 meters underground, with PFOS levels up to 33 ppt, far exceeding health advisory limits. Particulate air pollution in Chennai also contains PFAS, with PFOA as the dominant compound, indicating inhalation as another exposure route.

PFAS in Sensitive Ecosystems

Even protected areas are affected. In the Sundarbans mangrove wetland, PFOA was found in all sampled sites at an average level of 11.61 ppb, raising concerns for ecosystems recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Forever Chemical Regulations in India 

According to a 2019 IPEN report, India currently does not regulate PFAS or related compounds, leaving “forever chemicals” largely unmonitored despite their persistence and health risks. However, recent regulatory developments signal a shift towards stricter control. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has taken steps to enhance packaging safety regulations.

On October 6, 2025, FSSAI issued a draft notification proposing amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, titled the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2025. These amendments aim to align India’s packaging standards with global best practices and reduce consumer exposure to harmful chemicals.

The draft amendment proposes a ban on PFAS (forever chemicals) in all food contact materials to reduce long-term health risks and encourage safer, eco-friendly packaging. It also targets Bisphenol A (BPA) and its derivatives, commonly used in polycarbonate containers and can linings, which can leach into food. The regulation requires all such materials to be BPA-free, promoting safer alternatives and a healthier packaging environment in India’s food industry.

Conclusion

Forever chemicals (PFAS) are still allowed in India, even though they are harmful and linked to liver damage, cancers, developmental problems, and risks to infants. Europe has banned them due to widespread contamination and health concerns, while India is only now starting to take action, such as proposing a ban on food packaging. Their presence in water, soil, air, wildlife, and breast milk shows the urgent need for stricter regulation and safer alternatives to protect people and the environment.

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on tradebrains.in are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Investing in equities poses a risk of financial losses. Investors must therefore exercise due caution while investing or trading in stocks. Trade Brains Technologies Private Limited or the author are not liable for any losses caused as a result of the decision based on this article. Please consult your investment advisor before investing.