After the investigations that in Italy have turned the spotlight (again) on PFAS contamination in drinking and mineral waters, Greenpeace returns to denounce the risks linked to these substances. This time the scenario is that of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, where the German section of the environmental organization has conducted new research which confirms how widespread and worrying the problem of eternal chemicals is.
According to the data, commonly consumed fish and shellfish – such as plaice, herring, turbot and crab – are contaminated with PFAS at such levels that a single 150 gram portion can already cover or even exceed the tolerable weekly intake set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
The investigation
Greenpeace activists collected 17 samples between June and July 2025, purchasing them directly from fishing boats, fish markets and shops in several German locations, including Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Cuxhaven and Büsum.
Laboratory tests highlighted the presence of PFAS in all samples analyzed. Some species show particularly critical levels of contamination: turbot, herring and sole are the most affected, while crabs and other varieties of fish present lower but still significant concentrations. Among the most shocking things is the fact that some samples exceeded the EU limits by a lot.
The Greenpeace document states:
As regards exposure through food, by comparing the results of the analyzes with the EU limit values for fish (PFOS: 2.0, PFOA: 0.2, PFNA: 0.5, PFHxS: 0.2 and Somma-PFAS: 2.0 μg/kg), intended for consumption by all age groups, values up to twelve times higher than the legal limit were found in three samples.
Then there was a turbot sample which showed PFOS and PFNA 1.2 and 1.4 times above the limits respectively, while a herring sample recorded PFOA almost ten times above the limit, and a sole showed PFNA above twice the allowed threshold.
The health risks
The impact on human health is not negligible. For an average weight adult, consuming a 150 gram portion of turbot or crab can cause the tolerable weekly intake of PFAS established by the EFSA to be exceeded by up to 40%. If consumption is repeated several times a week, exposure levels can even rise up to 321%.
Children are particularly vulnerable to PFAS contamination due to their lower body weight. According to the Greenpeace study, just 50 grams per week of some contaminated fish or shellfish – in particular eight of the 17 organisms analyzed – are enough to exceed the tolerable weekly intake established by EFSA. This means that even small amounts consumed occasionally can result in significant exposure, making children particularly at risk than adults.
Some of the PFAS we have detected can accumulate in the body. This means that exposure dangerous to health increases over time – explained Julios Kontchou, eco-toxicologist at Greenpeace Germany.
Among the most relevant compounds, PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid) was predominant, present in all samples and often in high concentrations, followed by PFOA, PFNA and PFHxS.
All detected PFAS are long-chain compounds, known for their strong accumulation in the body. Analyzing the most regulated substances – PFOS, PFOA, PFNA and PFHxS – Greenpeace observed that these four substances alone make up between 64% and 100% of the total concentration of PFAS in the samples.
The results highlight how the persistence of PFAS in the marine environment, despite restrictions and bans, makes this group of chemical substances a constant threat to the food chain and consequently to our health.
What are PFAS
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of more than 10,000 synthetic compounds used for their water- and oil-repellent properties. They are found in everyday products such as technical clothing, carpets, food packaging and non-stick kitchenware.
Defined as “forever chemicals” because they do not degrade in the environment, PFAS accumulate in ecosystems and in the human body. Several studies have linked these substances to damage to the immune system, liver and reproductive functions, as well as an increased risk of some cancers.
The investigation by Greenpeace Germany is part of a broader framework of European alarm relating to these substances. In Italy, in recent years, various analyzes have revealed the presence of PFAS both in tap water in various regions (the situation is known to be quite critical in Veneto) and in some brands of bottled mineral water.
These episodes have already fueled the debate on the urgency of limiting the spread of these compounds, which continue to contaminate soil, groundwater and the food chain.
Although the European Food Safety Authority has set very low thresholds for weekly intake of PFAS, the chemical industry continues to oppose a total ban. In the meantime, numerous associations have long been asking governments to ban the use of these substances in consumer products without exception, promoting safe alternatives already available on the market.
Greenpeace Germany once again issues a clear warning: without rapid and binding interventions, the so-called “eternal pollutants” will continue to threaten the environment, health and food safety for a very long time, with all the risks this entails.
