PFAS-coated clothes that are thrown away will often end up either incinerated or in landfill. Unless incinerated at very high temperatures (>1000oC), fluorinated polymers could release more harmful PFAS during burning. PFAS of environmental concern have also been found in landfill leachate. PFAS is found in treated waste water from industrial and domestic sources and has been found in both rivers and groundwater. Conventional drinking water processes will not remove PFAS.Small quantities of PFAS will be removed during wash and wear of products containing PFAS. This includes fluorinated polymers used on stain-resistant coatings, and non-polymers that remain on clothes after production (Lassen et al. 2015).Non-polymer PFAS can build up in blood protein of animals, and is not always removed quickly. This means that predators eating PFAS-contaminated food will have higher levels in their bloodstream, and concentrations can increase up the food chain. Studies suggest that build up of PFAS is similar to those of other Persistent Organic Pollutants such as DDT.PFAS are estimated to be settling in arctic regions at rates of tens to hundreds of kilograms per year (25-850kg per year), depending on the specific PFAS chemical in question. Certain PFAS are released as gases to the environment and are blown a long way by wind and air currents in the atmosphere,. These gas PFAS will over time degrade to more persistent chemicals like PFOS and PFOA. This may be one reason why PFAS of environmental concern have been found in remote regions such as the Arctic as well as near PFAS production sitesPFAS including PFOS and PFOA have been found in air samples around Europe. The chemicals are found in small quantities, but appear in almost all samples tested. PFAS enters the atmosphere both from factories and the air inside our homes. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17554424 Non-polymer PFAS are used in the production of fluorinated polymers. The manufacture of stain-resistant finishes generally releases these PFASs into the environment, both by air and water emissions. They are very hard to remove during water treatment. Workers in textiles factories are some of the population most exposed to these potentially harmful chemicals.

Environmental charity supporting sustainability & preventing pollution

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Microplastics – Call for evidence – Fidra response

[featured_image]

Download

Version
Download 4262
File Size 385.73 KB
File Count 1
Create Date 18th February 2026
Last Updated 18th February 2026

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Microplastics - Call for evidence - Fidra response

Fidra's response to the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) call for evidence on Microplastics highlights significant sources of pollution in the UK including plastic pellets (or nurdles), sewage sludge, artificial sports pitches, and calls for lifecycle wide source controls to address microplastic pollution.

Published: February 2026

Language: English

Attached Files

APPG Microplastics Call for Evidence - Fidra response - Feb 2026.pdf

385.73 KB

Download

Jump to Top

Our Projects

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Microplastics – Call for evidence – Fidra response

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Microplastics - Call for evidence - Fidra response

Attached Files