SGS Strengthens their Commitment to Halting PFAS in the UAE

In recent years, studies conducted have raised various concerns over per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), while bringing attention to their potential adverse effects on human health and the overall environment. 

What is PFAS?

PFAS is a group of over 15,000 synthetic chemicals, that have found their way into numerous everyday products, ranging from non-stick cookware and food packaging to firefighting foam. Also known as ‘forever chemicals’ PFAS are renowned for their resistance quality to heat, water, and stains. These chemicals however take a long period to break down naturally, hence their name. Over time, these chemicals have also found its way into the environment and our bodies.

Why It Matters

Despite their numerous useful properties, constant exposure to PFAS poses a wide array of health risks in both humans and animals as they never really break down. Some of the risks include the following: 

• Cancers (testicular, kidney, liver, and pancreatic)
• Reproductive problems, weakened childhood immunity
• Low birth weight
• Endocrine disruption
• Increased cholesterol

Note that the research on PFAS is recent and therefore, the long-term impact of these chemicals has not yet been established.   

Legal Landscape and Recent Settlements

With increasing awareness, various legislative measures have been put in place. The EU, for instance, has implemented regulations to limit human exposure to PFAS, covering concentrations in food and drinking water. Furthermore, the most harmful chemicals within PFAS (PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, etc) have been fully banned.

With efforts to hold parties accountable and discourage the overutilization of such chemicals, agencies such as the EPA in the US have fined major multinational corporations for their substantial hand in creating health risks among communities and the environment.

SGS's Commitment to Combatting PFAS

Our cutting-edge laboratories in the UAE are ISO/IEC 17025 accredited and is at the forefront of addressing PFAS concerns. Offering testing for 31 different types of PFAS (of which 20 are regulated by the EU), SGS helps clients identify potential contamination hotspots in their supply chains. We are dedicated to assisting clients in the removal of high-risk and hazardous materials through systematic evaluation and analysis.