PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' Detected in Over 90% of French Drinking Water Samples, ANSES Reports

Widespread PFAS Contamination Revealed in French Water Supply

The French Agency for Food, Environmental, and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES) has released the results of a comprehensive two-year national sampling and testing assignment, confirming the widespread presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as 'forever chemicals,' in French drinking water. The study, conducted between 2023 and 2025, found that at least one PFAS chemical was detected in over 90 percent of the analyzed samples.

Specifically, Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), an ultra-short-chain PFAS, was identified in 92 percent of both raw and tap water samples, with a median concentration of 780 ng/L in tap water. Another short-chain PFAS, TFMSA, was detected for the first time in France in 13 percent of samples.

ANSES Study and Regulatory Context

The ANSES investigation involved analyzing over 600 raw and tap water samples from across mainland France and its overseas territories, representing approximately 20 percent of the nation's distributed water. This extensive sampling was initiated in response to the European Union's Directive 2020/2184 on the Quality of Water Intended for Human Consumption, which mandates the monitoring of 20 specific PFAS chemicals by January 12, 2026. ANSES expanded its scope to include 15 additional PFAS beyond the EU directive's list.

While the detection rate was high, ANSES noted that the vast majority of the analyzed samples fell below the applicable regulatory limits for PFAS. The EU directive sets a quality limit of 100 ng/L for the sum of the 20 regulated PFAS.

Health Implications of 'Forever Chemicals'

PFAS are a group of synthetic chemicals known for their extreme persistence in the environment and the human body, earning them the moniker 'forever chemicals.' Exposure to certain PFAS has been linked to a range of adverse health effects, including:

• Reproductive issues, such as decreased fertility and increased high blood pressure in pregnant women
• Developmental delays in children, including low birth weight
• Increased risk of certain cancers, including prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers
• Disruption of the immune system, leading to reduced vaccine response
• Interference with natural hormones and increased cholesterol levels

These chemicals can enter the human body through various pathways, with drinking water considered a common source of exposure.

France's Proactive Legislative Response

In a significant move to address PFAS contamination, France passed Law No. 2025-188 on February 27, 2025. This legislation introduces a phased ban on PFAS in several consumer products, including cosmetics, footwear, consumer textiles, and ski waxes, effective from January 1, 2026. A broader ban on all textiles containing PFAS (with some exceptions) is slated for 2030.

The new law also strengthens measures for drinking water protection, mandating expanded PFAS monitoring, annual public reporting of results, and the creation of a nationwide PFAS contamination map. Furthermore, it implements a 'polluter pays' principle, imposing a tax of €100 per 100 grams of PFAS discharged into the environment by manufacturers. A five-year plan aims to eliminate industrial PFAS water discharges by 2030.

In a related development, local authorities in the Saint-Louis area of the Haut-Rhin region issued a ban on tap water consumption for approximately 60,000 residents in July 2025, after PFAS levels were found to exceed recommended limits by four times, attributed to historical use of firefighting foam.