03/11/2025
๐ค ๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐'๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ณ๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ?
PFAS or "forever chemicals" arenโt confined to factories or labs: theyโre in rainfall, rivers, household dust, and the bloodstream of people across the globe.
Their ability to repel oil and water makes them useful, but it also makes them mobile and nearly indestructible.
Main exposure routes:
๐ง Water: PFAS leach from landfills, firefighting sites and industrial discharges into groundwater and drinking water.
๐จ Air: Volatile PFAS and precursors travel long distances before depositing in remote regions.
๐ Food: Bioaccumulation in fish, livestock, and crops grown in contaminated soils.
๐๏ธ Dust and textiles: Everyday exposure through treated fabrics, carpets and upholstery.
In South Africa, PFAS have been detected in surface and drinking water in several provinces. The Water Research Commission has begun monitoring studies, but there are no national regulatory limits yet. This leaves communities and industries uncertain about the true extent of exposure risk.
โ ๏ธ For the SHEQ sector, the issue is not only one of compliance, but also occupational hygiene and community safety. Workers may be exposed through contaminated water, treated textiles, or chemical processes without realising it.
๐ Key takeaway:
PFAS are not isolated pollutants โ they circulate through air, water, food and products. Understanding exposure pathways is critical to developing an effective risk and monitoring plan.
