How dangerous is Pfas meat for our health?

Pfas-polluted meat? The Council of States wants to keep an eye on the farmers. What the decision means – and why the problem of the PFAs does not particularly affect meat.

You can find them in floors, in the water – and on our plates: residues of the eternal slide chemicals called Pfas are everywhere. And partly in concentrations that can be harmful to health.

The canton of St. Gallen measured too high Pfas residues in several meat samples last year. Nevertheless, the beef is still sold. As the “NZZ am Sonntag” reports, the canton does not borrow in a transition phase – although this is actually required by law.

The PFAS-polluted beefs not only employ Eastern Switzerland. The Council of States of the topic took on Wednesday. He wants to help the affected farmers – directly and indirectly.

What did the Council of State decided?

The small chamber wants to give farms at which the PFAS limit values ​​are exceeded, more time to solve the problem-for example by opening up new water versions. In addition, less strict regulations should apply to them in the extended transition period.

For example, the environmental commission of the Council of States, whose spring the proposal comes, has a loosening of the ban on sales. Affected companies should be allowed to mix polluted meat with unencumbered, so that the limit is observed as a whole. That would be possible with minced meat or sausages. This is prohibited today. How long the transition period takes is unclear – realistically, more than months than months. The Federal Council is intended to examine further support measures for affected companies.

In addition, the federal government should weight the interests of the economy, especially agriculture, when determining PFAS limit values. The bourgeois majority in the Council of States prevailed against SP, Greens and GLP. These defended themselves against the majority of the measures because they were contrary to environmental and health protection.

What does the decision have?

Immediately none. Next, the National Council will deal with the advance. If he also waves it through, the Federal Council must check which measures can be implemented exactly how. Minister of Health Elisabeth Baume Schneider has already indicated that she keeps little from the concrete suggestion to mix strain on strain with unencumbered meat. In principle, however, the Federal Council also finds it necessary to act. It is about finding a compromise – and not opening the locks.

How is today’s regulation?

Switzerland introduced limit values ​​for four PFAs in 2024 – for eggs, meat and fish. Pfas residues can also be found in the drinking water. The federal government has currently defined maximum values ​​for three fabrics, although no exceedance has been found so far. Particularly dangerous PFAs have also been forbidden for some time. Further bans are likely to follow.

How trustworthy and safe are the specified limit values?

Border values ​​are based on scientific knowledge, but they are political decisions. Authorities determine and many considerations flow into how much can be expected – for example, also the food manufacturers and farmers. Martin Scheringer from ETH says: «Limit values ​​are important legal foundations. But you have to be able to revise them when new knowledge is added. I personally trust them. »

Is St.Gallen an isolated case?

No, certainly not. The focus is on the canton because it has carried out comprehensive measurements – and thereby came across the limit. Other cantons have not yet looked so closely. In order to have reliable data throughout Switzerland, the federal and cantons are now carrying out measurements. Due to these results, the Federal Council could soon decide tightened limit values ​​for PFAS residues in food.

Stricter rules are also likely to apply to drinking water too: the federal government is planning to introduce stricter and more comprehensive maximum values ​​analogous to the EU. They should come into force in 2026. The initiative now assumed by the Council of States demands that Switzerland rethink the plans again and not take over all the EU tightening.

Is meat more problematic than other foods?

No. All foods can be contaminated with PFAs. «There are also very high values ​​in vegetables and fruit. In Germany, a strawberry builder had to destroy his whole harvest for Pfas, »says Martin Scheringer, environmental chemist at ETH and PFAS expert. « You cannot recommend a recommendation for which food should be avoided. » It is known that the liver is more stressful in fish than the muscle meat. This is usually not consumed.

How dangerous are these substances for human health?

Pfas mainly accumulate in the liver, our detoxification organ. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies the sub -group Pfoa as « carcinogenic » and PFOs as « possibly carcinogenic ». This effect was mostly tested on mice that are exposed to high doses. Martin Scheringer says: «Of course, these results are not 1: 1 transferable to humans. But the high dosage is intentional: you want to discover the risks. » In addition, a statistical connection with high PFAS dosing in the blood of people was often discovered: With cancer,, Heared thyroid function,, With regard to kidney disorders and Higher cholesterol levels. The higher the PFAS levels, the higher the risk of illness. In general, they seem to weaken the body’s defenses. A statistical context was too Reduced number of sperm at sons seen by polluted mothers. With regard to inflammatory bowel diseases and Alzheimer’s risk, the study situation is contradictory.

Are you as dangerous as alcohol?

The effect of the PFAs is compared to the effect of the cell poison alcohol. Scheringer doesn’t like the comparison. He says: «Alcohol is voluntarily consumed, so you also take the risks voluntarily. In addition, pregnant women and children do not consume alcohol – but the PFAs are also exposed to these sensitive population groups. »

Are children particularly at risk?

There are no studies on this. Since children are in many development processes that can be disturbed, they are more sensitive to chemicals per se.

Why are Pfas so common?

Pfas show water, fats and dirt. This makes these fabrics unique and sometimes still indispensable. Since they do not break down, they spread everywhere over the groundwater. From the floor you get into animals and plants. Pfas also get into the environment and the body via coated packaging. Disposable dishes made of palm leaves or other organic fabrics as well as coffee cups are usually coated with PFAs – practically wherever there was some waterproof waterproof.

So should we eat and drink from plastic again?

« No, instead we should go back to dishes made of glass and porcelain, » says Martin Scheringer. But what on the go? A company that introduced a reusable system at train stations for coffee cups failed in Switzerland last year. « If people don’t want to take their own cups with them, they shouldn’t drink the coffee on the go – that would be my recommendation, » says Scheringer. « There is no alternative for everything, we have to learn that. »

What about the baking paper?

There are baking paper without Pfas – but nobody knows which products are because nothing is declared on the packaging. Why this is not done is unclear. As with microplastic -free cosmetics, this could actually be a sales argument. Until this is the case, you can simply omit baking paper and grease the sheet better – just as it used to be done.

And the Teflonpans?

These consist of a coating with PFAs, but according to expert Martin Scheringer, there is hardly any Pfas via such a pan.

Where else do we come into contact with Pfas?

If we exude impregnation means, wear a rain jacket or use ski wax. Such ski wax has been banned in professional sports since last year, but amateurs can still buy it. Not only athletes come into contact with pfa and pfa-containing steamings, the fabric gets into the floors and groundwater via the melted snow. Therefore, long -skiers in the Engadine were criticized. One Investigation of the canton of Graubünden In the Upper Engadine 2022, however, it showed that the lakes and rivers are not stronger there, but are weaker than others in Switzerland. And there was no significant difference in the pollution of the fish.

Are the alternatives really better?

For outdoor jackets or pans there are PFAS-free alternatives. But are you better too? A chemical ingredient has been banned and replaced several times – and later found that these risks also contain. For example, for replacement fabrics for bisphenol A in plastic. But Scheringer says: «With the PFAs, everything is better than this because the alternatives will be degradable. The fact that Pfas are eternal is the biggest problem. »

Can Pfas also find in the human body?

Yes, according to measurements of the Federal Office for the Environment in the Swiss health study 2023, such substances were found in all 780 examined blood samples. The crowd was often negligible, but in 3.6 percent of all samples the researchers classified the found amount of the subgroup PFOs as questionable for health.

How long have these fabrics have been around?

Pfas were invented in the 1940s. They have been widespread since the 1970s. We’ve been in contact with you for so long.

How do Pfas get into the ground?

For example, via sewage sludge, in which rotten papers or packaging were impregnated with PFAs. Fire extinguishing foam can also contain PFAs, which then spreads over the groundwater.

Why are they called eternity chemicals?

The carbon fluorine bonds are so stable that they cannot be broken in the environment. This is only possible with very high temperatures (as they occur in sweeping combustion systems), strong chemicals or UV light in the laboratory. They do not pass in the environment and are distributed so that they can now be found in the Antarctic.

How do you get rid of PFAS?

Sest material can be burned. Water can be pumped through activated carbon. But this is only worthwhile at high concentrations, the processes are all complex and expensive. Pfas in the ground cannot be eliminated. In the human body, half -life is 3 to 5 years – after this time half the amount has been excreted. Above all, the PFAS gates should be closed, i.e. where Pfas get into the environment. Scheringer recently referred to SRF as « absurd » that Pfas were still approved where they reach the hands of consumers directly, i.e. in disposable dishes and baking paper.