German Environment Agency (UBA) warns of persistent and mobile chemicals

Persistent, mobile and in some cases toxic chemicals, known as PMT/vPvM substances, can endanger our water resources in the long term. The German Environment Agency is therefore calling for emissions of such substances into the environment to be minimised.

These chemicals are used in various products such as pesticides, biocides, medicines and industrial chemicals. They are found in paints, adhesives and corrosion inhibitors and can move through the water cycle. Once they have entered water resources, removing them is difficult and expensive.

The UBA has found that such chemicals occur in the environment more often than assumed. Some, such as PFAS, are difficult to remove from water. In tests carried out at 13 German drinking water suppliers, such chemicals were found in every sample. The main problem is their persistence and mobility, which could increase their concentrations in the environment.

UBA President Dirk Messner stresses the need to reduce emissions of these chemicals in order to protect drinking water and health. A study has identified more than 600 chemicals in water resources, of which half are subject to the REACH regulation. Many of these are PMT/vPvM chemicals. Dr Christiane Rohleder stresses the importance of these findings and calls on industry to take measures to reduce these emissions.

The UBA has published a list of 259 PMT/vPvM chemicals registered in the REACH database. This list helps manufacturers and users identify which of their chemicals are classified as PMT/vPvM. To protect water resources, emissions of these chemicals must be reduced throughout their entire life cycle.

Source: UBA (in German)