EWG: Global danger: Wildlife at risk from PFAS exposure. “About the map – ‘Forever chemicals’ found in wildlife around the world SEPTEMBER 26, 2023

• Pandas, sea lions, tigers and over 600 species across the globe are at risk of harm from exposure to “forever chemicals” known as PFAS.
• No matter the country or continent, if species are tested for PFAS contamination, these harmful chemicals show up – where you look for PFAS, you’ll find it.
• This first-time analysis of massive amounts of data shows the global scope of the PFAS problem, and just because a location isn’t listed on this map doesn’t mean there’s no contamination.

The toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS pollute the air, water and soil, exposing people and animals alike to potential health harms. This first-of-its-kind map provides a window into the extent globally of the contamination crisis facing wildlife, – and suggesting PFAS likely pose a risk to wildlife everywhere. To create the map, EWG undertook a landmark effort to catalog 220 peer-reviewed scientific studies documenting PFAS contamination of wildlife. Hundreds of other studies of PFAS contamination of wildlife have been completed and not yet cataloged. This work builds on a previous map, released in January, that for the first time showed how PFAS are contaminating U.S. freshwater fish from coast to coast. Our research showed that PFAS levels are so high in most freshwater fish that even infrequent consumption would increase the amount of PFAS in a person. The fact scientists are finding PFAS in species sampled everywhere should concern anyone – wherever we look for these forever chemicals, we find them. Further testing would likely reveal similar exposure for wildlife in locations not highlighted on this map, since the PFAS pollution is a truly global crisis.”

See also related paper – Discussion. Has the human population become a sentinel for the adverse effects of PFAS contamination on wildlife health and endangered species?