The French Parliament has approved a historic ban on the use of "forever chemicals."

The French parliament has approved a historic ban on "forever chemicals" in cosmetics, clothing, and ski wax. This decision could have repercussions for other countries as well.

This is reported by RBK-Ukraine citing The Washington Post.

These chemicals, known as PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, encompass thousands of compounds manufactured for creating products and coatings that repel grease, water, oil, and heat.

Currently, these persistent chemicals are found in hundreds of household items, including non-stick cookware, menstrual products, dental floss, and medications.

Scientists have detected PFAS worldwide, even in remote regions of Antarctica and in the blood of most Americans.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to PFAS can lead to an increased risk of prostate and testicular cancer, low birth weight, high cholesterol levels, as well as adverse effects on the liver, hormonal balance, and immune system.

Following today's agreement, the French bill, which is set to be signed by President Emmanuel Macron, will prohibit the production, import, and sale of PFAS in coated products by January 2026, with a broader ban on all textiles by 2030.

France's actions follow restrictions in Denmark, which in 2020 banned the use of PFAS in cardboard and paper food packaging, including microwave popcorn bags and baking paper.

The European Chemicals Agency is currently reviewing an ambitious proposal to ban the production and use of PFAS throughout the European Union.

As a reminder, RBK-Ukraine previously reported that scientists examined cosmetics and hygiene products for hazardous substances and found "forever chemicals" in many items that do not break down in nature.

At the same time, we reported that fast food wrappers are notorious for containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) or chemicals linked to numerous negative health impacts.

For more details, you can refer to the article by RBK-Ukraine.