Since the 1940s, the industrial tap has been pouring hazardous chemical substances into Europe, spreading them into every nook and cranny of the environment. While their scientific name – per- and polyfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) – is not very evocative, their nickname speaks for itself: "forever chemicals." The exceptional chemical properties of PFAS – non-stick, water-repellent, stain-resistant, etc. – that make them highly popular with manufacturers also prevent their natural degradation. Remarkably mobile and long-lasting, PFAS accumulate everywhere: in water, soil, waste... and living beings too.

Yet their elimination is a public health priority. The concentration of PFAS in the environment makes them a danger to living organisms: cancers, infertility, toxicity to the kidney, liver and immune system – the list of illnesses linked to exposure to PFAS is constantly growing.

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