PFAS chemicals have been found in the groundwater of a fifth of the country’s municipalities: PFAS are carcinogenic, increase the risk of both kidney and testicular cancer, and do not degrade naturally. Pressure is growing on the environment minister, Magnus Heunicke, to initiate an investigation into the presence of PFAS in Denmark’s rainfall, as tests carried out in the autumn by TV2 Vejr in collaboration with the Eurofins laboratory found PFAS present in four out of five rainfall samples taken. In one of them, taken in Lyngby (just north of Copenhagen), there were 1.5 nanograms of PFAS per litre, just 0.5 shy of what is considered to be a dangerous amount if consumed. It has just been acknowledged that PFAS was found in tests in 2004, which revealed a presence of 2.4 nanograms per litre of PFOS and 23.2 nanograms per litre of PFDA: the 2004 results were withheld for nearly two decades. However, the Environment Ministry, along with the Miljøstyrelsen Environmental Protection Agency, are yet to take any action: Enhedslisten, SF, Danmarksdemokraterne and Konservative, along with government parties Venstre and Moderaterne, who all support an investigation, are growing frustration and are asking for an immediate investigation. Read more on Cphpost.dk
