Persistent threats in our plates: the unseen danger of PFAS in EU agriculture

Contamination has tripled in ten years and some fruits are particularly affected by the problem

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In the European Union, the increasing presence of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in agricultural crops, particularly in non-organic fruits and vegetables, is becoming a glaring issue. A recent study by Pan Europe has uncovered that such contamination stems from the addition of PFAS to the pesticides used in agriculture. As a result, through fruits and vegetables, we are exposed not only to a cocktail of pesticides but also to the PFAS they contain.

Typically, when we think of PFAS, our minds might jump to non-stick pans (as we’ve discussed in a recent article), but often we underestimate that these substances, known in the US as “forever chemicals” for their persistence in the environment, are also used in food crops.

As Pan Europe reminds us:

“The per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, known as ‘forever chemicals’ due to their exceptional persistence, are now one of the biggest chemical risks to human health and the environment. They pollute water resources and accumulate in soil, food crops, and living organisms, including humans. The limited evidence available indicates a range of human health and environmental effects related to exposure. Our report shows that European agriculture contributes to this PFAS legacy.”

The Pan Europe study specifically focused on the use of 37 active substances containing PFAS in the cultivation of non-organic fruits and vegetables in Europe, substances not mentioned on pesticide labels. Thus, farmers are often unaware of what the products they spray on their lands truly contain.

The research analyzed official pesticide residue monitoring data in the EU from 2001 to 2021, highlighting a tripling of contamination levels over a decade. Specifically, it found residues of 31 PFAS pesticides in fruits and vegetables (the most common being the fungicide fluopyram, the insecticide flonicamid, and the fungicide trifloxystrobin).

Non-organic fruit shows higher levels than vegetables, with 20% of the analyzed fruit containing a combination of PFAS pesticide residues.

The most contaminated fruit by PFAS

Certain varieties have been found to be more contaminated by PFAS. The negative record for the year 2021 includes:

Strawberries (contamination percentage 37%)
Peaches (contamination percentage 35%)
Apricots (contamination percentage 31%)

These varieties often contained cocktails of three or four different PFAS in a single fruit, as in the case of strawberries.

In 2021, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Spain, and Portugal produced the most frequently contaminated fruits and vegetables. Among the importers, Costa Rica, India, South Africa, Colombia, and Morocco contributed most to PFAS contamination.

What are the risks

Although most of the residues detected fall within the maximum residue limits (MRLs), concerns persist due to the cocktail effect, i.e., the combined exposure to various chemicals. The toxicity of individual PFAS is widely documented, linked to health harms such as endocrine disruption, carcinogenesis, and genotoxicity, but little is yet known about the potential effects of a toxic substances cocktail.

As a result, Pan Europe emphasizes the urgency of banning the use of PFAS pesticides to protect the health of the European population, with particular attention to the most vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, infants, and children.

Experts also remind us that:

“PFAS pesticides are not absolutely necessary for growing crops. They are an easily avoidable source of PFAS pollution. The maintenance of PFAS pesticide approvals in the EU leads to the intentional exposure of citizens to PFAS residues day after day, despite the medical community’s calls for complete elimination. In 2020, the EU committed to banning all non-essential PFAS in Europe, but PFAS pesticides were excluded from the proposal on the false assumption that they are already sufficiently regulated by EU pesticide law.”

Report here

Source: Pan Europe

Friluftsliv, the distinctly Norwegian practice of connecting with the natural environment

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Immersing oneself in nature to experience a profound connection with one’s inner self and others, thus finding the path to well-being and happiness, is the essence of friluftsliv. This Norwegian term, which can be translated as “outdoor life,” encompasses a concept that is much broader and more complex.

The origin of Friluftsliv

Spending ample time outdoors, taking walks along rivers or through forests, and living in connection with nature is intrinsic to Norwegian culture. It’s a way of being that is part of the country’s national identity.

The term friluftsliv was first used by the poet Henrik Ibsen in his composition (On The Heights) in 1859 to describe a sort of deep spiritual connection with nature, which he believed holds the secret to well-being and happiness.

Friluftsliv does not denote a specific activity but embraces all activities that can be performed outdoors from which our spirit can draw vital sustenance and benefit. Hiking in the forest, kayaking along the fjords, skiing in the mountains, gathering wild fruits and berries, or simply sitting in the heart of the forest… this is friluftsliv.

Friluftsliv today

Far from being an ancient concept outdated by technology and the sedentary, urban lifestyle that dominates modern society, friluftsliv is still much loved and practiced by Norwegians.

A recent survey revealed that 83% of Norwegians are interested in friluftsliv, 77% spend time in nature every week, and 25% do so almost daily. Many people choose to sleep outside, in nature, at least once a week.

In Norway, there is also a tradition of letting small children sleep outdoors for a few nights during the winter to strengthen their immune defenses and their resistance to the cold.

The benefits of this practice

The health benefits of spending time outdoors, in contact with the natural environment, are well documented in scientific literature.

Walks in the greenery help soothe symptoms of respiratory diseases such as asthma and allergies; they are good for the heart as they reduce hypertension; they contribute to improving the quality of our rest, reducing insomnia.

But friluftsliv does much more than this. The practice helps reduce anxiety and depression, improving mood and psychological well-being in the long term.

Furthermore, those who engage in friluftsliv report feeling more focused at work (or study), more inclined to learn new things, more curious, and more open towards others.

Finally, spending time in nature detaches one from daily life and seems to increase the ability to change perspective, making people more resilient and more prepared to face challenges and changes.

Source: Norsk Friluftsliv