PFAS & Society
The widespread use of PFAS and the associated increase in air, water and soil pollution are highly relevant to society as a whole, not least because of the associated health risks.
The avoidance and future minimisation of the use of PFAS to the ‘essential uses’ is therefore the central field of action for social science research. Key issues are in-depth research to further develop chemicals legislation, product law and environmental law, involving all relevant stakeholders in society. In addition, increased, far-reaching communication of important scientific findings on PFAS contamination in the environment and in humans plays an important role.
At the same time, social science research should identify ways to remediate environmental compartments that have already been damaged and are heavily contaminated with PFAS, and work towards establishing polluter responsibility, for example through collective liability systems or in the form of a PFAS remediation fund.
Topics and projects
UFZ scientists support the PFAS restriction at EU level
Köck, W. (2022): Die PFC-Grundwasserbelastung in Mittelbaden – eine einführende rechtliche Problemskizze, in: Zeitschrift für Umweltrecht (ZUR) 33 (2022) 643- 647.
Stubenrauch, J., Ekardt, F. (2021): Zur Ausgestaltung eines nationalen Verbots giftiger Chemikalien bei Kunststoffen. Rechtsvergleichende und EU-rechtliche Aspekte, EurUP 19 (4), S. 406-425, available at: http://www.sustainability-justice-climate.eu/files/texts/Mikroplastik-EurUP.pdf.
Köck, W.; Henn, E. (2020). Die Rechte der Wasserversorger bei der Grundwasserressourcenbewirtschaftung – am Beispiel der PFC-Grundwasserbelastungen in Mittelbaden, in: Neue Zeitschrift für Verwaltungsrecht (NVwZ) 39 (2020), 504-511.
Köck, W. (2018): Die PFC-Grundwasserkontamination in Mittelbaden als Problem des Wasserrechts und der Flussgebietsbewirtschaftung, in: Neue Zeitschrift für Verwaltungsrecht (NVwZ) 37 (2018), 1831-1838.