The cost of PFAS pollution for our society

Concerns over the health and environmental impacts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been growing in the 21st century. Until now, there have been limited resources devoted to placing a monetary value on these impacts, which could help public authorities and society understand the scale of the problem in a tangible way. A key study on the subject dates back to 2019[1] and, since then, several new findings have been published that would make an updated cost valuation useful.

WSP and Ricardo, led by Trinomics B.V., are supporting the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV) with a study on the cost of PFAS pollution for our society that aims to expand our understanding of the costs of PFAS pollution on our health and the environment.

The objective of this project is to present information on all components of the societal costs of PFAS pollution, expressed in monetary terms and based on an up-to-date list of impacts of PFAS on the environment and human health. This assessment will describe not only the cost of current pollution but also the future costs under a limited number of prospective scenarios representing hypothetical future developments, hence showing the current and future costs of inaction.

 

To achieve these objectives, the following tasks are in place:

• Task 1—Conduct a literature review and stakeholder interviews to understand the level of information currently available and gather input from stakeholders.

We will build an evidence base for PFAS exposure, risks, and ecological and health impacts and costs. Ultimately, the aim is to better understand the evidence underpinning the societal costs of PFAS pollution and identify any knowledge gaps, by PFAS sub-groups (e.g., PFAA and PFAA precursors, polymeric PFAS, fluorinated gases). The project team will interview key experts to close information gaps and identify additional literature, particularly if this is unpublished and/or ongoing.

 

• Task 2– Develop a methodology to estimate the monetary costs of current and future pollution of PFAS in the EEA and EU.

We will develop a robust methodology to estimate the current and future costs of PFAS pollution to society based on the available methods and evidence gathered and reviewed under Task 1 and the team’s expertise. We will value the environmental and human health impacts of PFAS pollution using market and non-market valuation techniques that align with international best practices.

 

• Task 3– Develop four hypothetical pollution scenarios for assessing societal costs.

We will develop estimates of PFAS emissions and pollution in the EU under four hypothetical prospective scenarios, informed by the evidence gathered under Task 1 and using the methodologies developed under Task 2. The scenarios will represent hypothetical boundary PFAS pollution levels and make links with water pollution levels, for key milestone dates – 2025 (present), 2030, 2040 and 2050.

 

• Task 4– Assess the societal cost of PFAS for the environment and human health, drawing on the defined scenarios to estimate current and potential future costs in the EU.

The outputs from Task 2 (the methodology) and Task 3 (future PFAS pollution levels under each hypothetical scenario) will be combined to estimate the monetary costs to society of PFAS pollution in the EU (and the EEA region) across key milestone dates –2025 (present), 2030, 2040 and 2050 – and four scenarios.

 

The final report will present the overall findings of the analysis and will shed light on the costs of PFAS pollution to our society currently and in the future.

The study will run from September 2024 to September 2025.

 

 

[1] https://www.norden.org/en/publication/cost-inaction-0