BERLIN, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- A German environmental group has detected harmful "forever chemicals" in nearly all drinking water samples it tested nationwide.
The Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) said traces of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were found in 42 of 46 samples collected between June and October.
Berlin was among the worst affected areas, with high PFAS levels detected in water from the city's government district. According to the German news agency dpa, PFAS are linked to liver damage and cancers of the kidney and testicles. Experts warn the substances can permanently contaminate water sources.
PFAS are widely used in products such as outdoor gear, non-stick cookware, and cosmetics. BUND said only a few of the thousands of PFAS compounds are currently regulated in Germany.
"Our random samples show that PFAS have long since entered our water cycle, from surface waters to groundwater and even drinking water," BUND's Managing Director Verena Graichen said. ■