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What is PFAS all about?

24/2024, 09.07.2024

BfR Consumer Monitor: Many people are unaware of persistent chemicals

Per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFAS) are persistent industrially produced compounds that can accumulate in the environment and organisms. Recently, they have increasingly become the subject of public debate due to potential health risks. Nevertheless, the majority of the population is not aware of PFAS. This was revealed by the Consumer Monitor, a regular representative survey conducted by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). According to the survey, six out of ten respondents have not heard of PFAS. This was the first time that the Consumer Monitor had asked about the substances in consumer products. The frontrunners in terms of awareness of given health and consumer topics are "microplastics in food", "e-cigarettes" (95 per cent each), "genetically modified food" (93 per cent) and "antibiotic resistance" (92 per cent). "The Consumer Monitor shows that awareness and concern about certain consumer issues remain surprisingly stable over time," says BfR President Professor Andreas Hensel. "It also consistently shows that 'man-made' risks are considered more dangerous than natural ones."

Link: https://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/364/bfr-consumer-monitor-02-2024.pdf

"In your opinion, what are the biggest health risks for consumers?" The most frequently mentioned are variously described "undesirable substances" (28 per cent), followed by plastics (19 per cent), certain nutrients such as sugar, fat and salt (13 per cent) and unhealthy lifestyles (11 per cent). At the lower end are hygiene deficiencies, meat consumption (4 per cent each) and general climate and environmental pollution (3 per cent).

"How well informed do you feel about the following consumer topics?" was another question. "Food hygiene at home" (60 per cent), antibiotic resistance (38 per cent) and microplastics in food (37 per cent) came in first place with "(very) well informed". "Swallowed button cells (batteries)" came last with 13 per cent, PFAS with 10 per cent and campylobacter (a food germ) with 8 per cent.

About the BfR

The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is a scientifically independent institution within the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) in Germany. The BfR advises the Federal Government and the States (‘Laender’) on questions of food, chemicals and product safety. The BfR conducts independent research on topics that are closely linked to its assessment tasks.

This text version is a translation of the original German text which is the only legally binding version.

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