India’s water plants are failing to catch elusive ‘forever chemicals’, Pg II

Key Highlights:

• Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), or "forever chemicals," are widely detected in Indian water sources, posing a legitimate concern.
• Conventional water treatment systems are ineffective at removing PFAS, and their national extent of contamination in India remains poorly defined due to varied testing methods.
• Studies in Chennai and Visakhapatnam confirmed PFAS presence in groundwater, surface water, and sewage, with some treatment plants showing increased concentrations in treated water.
• The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) as carcinogenic and perfluorooctanesulfonic (PFOS) as possibly carcinogenic to humans.
• India currently lacks specific regulations banning PFAS manufacturing or dedicated drinking water limits under the IS 10500:2012 standard.
• The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is revising the IS 10500:2012 standard, with a dedicated Working Group on Emerging Contaminants and Forever Chemicals examining PFAS limits.
• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed a ban on PFAS in food contact materials through a draft amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018.

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Detailed Insights:

• PFAS are synthetic compounds with strong carbon-fluorine bonds, making them resistant to degradation and persistent in the environment.
• A 2025 review highlighted significant PFAS contamination in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, but noted inconsistencies in research methodologies.
• Research from IIT-Madras in 2024 found the highest PFAS levels in groundwater near garbage dumps in Chennai.
• A study in Visakhapatnam by GITAM (Deemed to be) University and international collaborators detected 38 PFAS compounds in seawater and sewage, with sewage contributing significantly to coastal concentrations.
• The increase of PFAS in treated water at some plants suggests the presence of unidentified precursors that transform into more stable PFAS during treatment.
• Current testing often relies on a fixed list of PFAS, potentially missing other diverse fluorinated compounds and their precursors.
• Adsorption-based treatment shows potential for PFAS removal, but cost-effective materials are still under development.
• The health risks of PFAS depend on the specific type, dose, and duration of exposure, with studies showing developmental and physiological impacts on aquatic life.
• The CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR) is participating in a UNEP-funded National Implementation Plan to build baseline data on PFAS in India.
• India's "opt-out" position under Article 25(4) of the Stockholm Convention means new listings of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) do not automatically apply unless ratified.
• Experts advocate for harmonized monitoring, broader screening for precursors, and the establishment of precautionary interim limits for well-studied PFAS.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): A group of synthetic chemicals known as "forever chemicals" due to their extreme persistence in the environment and resistance to degradation.
• Precursors: Chemical compounds that can transform into other, often more stable, PFAS during environmental processes or water treatment.
• Stockholm Convention: A global treaty aimed at protecting human health and the environment from Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).