Euronews Tech Talks Q&A: PFAS, what’s all the fuss?
Sep 3, 2025
Chemist Martin Scheringer, a leading PFAS researcher at ETH Zurich, dives into the world of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. He explains how these man-made chemicals lurk in everyday items, from pizza boxes to ski gear, and their alarming health impacts. Martin discusses their toxicity, persistent nature in the environment, and how they disrupt bodily functions. He also highlights the risks for firefighters and reveals real contamination cases, offering insights into detection methods and the burgeoning research on safer alternatives.
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Voices From Veneto
- Residents in Veneto described avoiding tap water and worried about contaminated food and children's exposure.
- One parent said their two young children make them anxious about lifelong health risks.
Corporate Source And Legal Fallout
- Discovery of PFAS in southwest Veneto's aquifers led to the identification of a local manufacturer as the main source.
- The company's managers later faced criminal charges and lengthy prison sentences.
Why PFAS Persist Forever
- PFAS are organic chemicals with many fluorine atoms bonded to carbon, giving them extreme stability and useful properties.
- Their carbon–fluorine bonds resist environmental breakdown, causing persistent accumulation.