Research identifies 134 ‘forever chemicals’ hotspots across Switzerland

Pollutants known as “forever chemicals”, which don’t break down in the environment, build up in the body and may be toxic, have been found at 134 sites in Switzerland, a European mapping project has revealed. In Switzerland, the map showed the greatest concentration of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a family of about 10,000 chemicals valued for their non-stick and detergent properties, in the Goms Valley in canton Valais. A measurement carried out in 2021 revealed a concentration of 14,569 nanograms of PFAS per kilogramme of soil. The news was reported by German-speaking media that took part in the "Forever Pollution Project". PFAS have made their way into water, soils and sediments from a wide range of consumer products, firefighting foams, waste and industrial processes. + Cleaning up Switzerland’s toxic legacy. The newspapers attributed the Goms pollution to ski wax. Valais authorities reject this theory, however. The pollution resulted from the use of...