Italy prepares a crackdown on Pfas in drinking water. But more can be done
Environment — di Simone Santi
Italy prepares a crackdown on Pfas in drinking water. But more can be done, at least according to Greenpeace
Italy prepares a crackdown on Pfas in drinking water. But more can be done
Italy prepares a crackdown on Pfas in drinking water. But more can be done, at least according to Greenpeace
- A legislative decree introducing stricter limits on the presence of chemical compounds in water is heading to the Senate.
- The new limits set 20 nanograms per litre for 4 of the most harmful molecules.
- However, these maximum values are still insufficient according to Efsa and the European Environment Agency.
Stricter limits, at last, on pollution from Pfas — chemical compounds used in numerous industrial processes and consumer products, known for their persistence in the environment (they are in fact known as forever chemicals) and their potential effects on human health.
With the new legislative decree passed by the government a few days ago and now before the Senate, Italy is proposing to adopt more restrictive measures to regulate the presence of Pfas in water intended for human consumption, aligning itself with European directives. Even if, for environmental associations such as Greenpeace, "there is still room for improvement." The decree will introduce a limit on the presence of Pfas in drinking water for 4 molecules of 20 nanograms per litre. The new threshold value applies to the sum of 4 Pfas, namely the molecules (Pfoa, Pfos, Pfna and Pfhxs) whose danger to human health is already well established, including their carcinogenicity — particularly in the case of Pfoa and Pfos.
In Parlamento il decreto legge per la riduzione dei #PFAS nelle acque potabili #BuoneNuove #DecretoLeggeCheLimitaIPFASNelleAcquePotabili pressenza.com/it/2025/03/in-…
All the (conflicting) limits on Pfas in water
The limit of 20 nanograms per litre will be added to that set by the European Union, equal to 100 nanograms per litre but calculated on the sum of 24 molecules, which will come into force in Italy from 12 January 2026. A limit that the European Food Safety Authority (Efsa) and the European Environment Agency nonetheless consider too lenient, inadequate to protect human health.
The new limit is the same as that introduced in Germany, although, as Greenpeace notes, it is "far from the more precautionary values for human health introduced by other countries such as Denmark (2 nanograms per litre) or Sweden (4 nanograms per litre)".
Pfas have been associated with a range of health problems, including immune system disruption, hormonal disorders and an increased risk of certain diseases. Furthermore, their persistence in the environment makes them difficult to eliminate, with the risk of long-term contamination of groundwater. In Italy, several proceedings have been opened against companies accused of failing to comply with their obligations by releasing quantities of Pfas above permitted limits into soil and water, such as former Solvay and Miteni.
Si avvicina la sentenza per l'azienda che ha inquinato il Veneto!📢
Dopo oltre 10 anni entra nelle fasi finali il processo alla Miteni, ritenuta responsabile del più grave caso di inquinamento da #PFAS in Italia👇
greenpeace.org/italy/storia/2…
Dopo oltre 10 anni entra nelle fasi finali il processo alla Miteni, ritenuta responsabile del più grave caso di inquinamento da #PFAS in Italia👇
greenpeace.org/italy/storia/2…
The adoption of these new limits would therefore impose a change of course in the management of water resources, with the introduction of advanced filtration systems and greater monitoring of water quality. The decree also establishes that information on the presence of Pfas must be communicated transparently to citizens, including through utility bills and digital tools. Public attention and pressure from the scientific community and environmental associations will continue to play a key role in determining the next steps in environmental policy. According to Greenpeace, in fact, "while it is true that the measure represents an important result for the protection of the health of citizens, political forces must as soon as possible reach an agreement to reduce the permitted limits even further, bringing them closer to the only safe threshold: technical zero." The ultimate goal, therefore, is "for a law to be passed as soon as possible banning the use and production of Pfas."
Processo Miteni: oggi il nostro intervento in aula per chiedere #ecogiustizia e un futuro libero dai veleni. Da oltre 10anni denunciamo con vertenze, azioni e manifestazioni l'inquinamento da #Pfas e il diritto negato alla salute e a un ambiente salubre. cigno.link/processo-miteni
The same hope expressed in recent days by Italy's other major environmental association, Legambiente, as it closely follows developments in the Miteni trial, which is pressing ahead swiftly with hearings towards a first-instance verdict: between now and 15 May, no fewer than 7 sessions have been scheduled to hear the defences of the defendants — 15 managers from the former chemical plant in Trissino, in the province of Vicenza — who face charges of discharging perfluoroalkyl substances into the water table beneath the company's site. Legambiente, which is a civil party in the proceedings, intervened in court on 20 March calling for "eco-justice and a future free from poisons. For over ten years we have been denouncing Pfas pollution and the denied right to health and a clean environment through legal battles, actions and demonstrations."