Persistent and mobile substances are those that that do not degrade in the environment and can readily be transported by groundwater or through drinking water purification treatment plants. They pose a growing threat to water quality in Europe and worldwide, particularly in regions with poor monitoring or treatment technologies available. The most widely known type of persistent and mobile substances are PFAS, which stands for per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), which is nearly ubiquitous in Europe's drinking water supplies. In some areas, like the Rastatt area in Germany, this has exceeding safe drinking limits, causing residents to import water and upgrade their water treatment facility. But PFAS is just one group pf PM substances. There are many, many more, and their presences is increasing. Recently new hazard categories for these substances has been introduced in Europe: Persistent, Mobile and Toxic (PMT) and very Persistent, very Mobile (vPvM). The importance of limiting the release of PMT/vPvM substances is based on growing evidence that they are increasingly accumulating over time and space, entering drinking water sources, food supplies, re-circulating in water cycles and making water treatment more expensive. There is increasing concern for these new substances on their consequences to the general population, and for future generations.
To protect the environment and human health from persistent and mobile substances, the H2020 project ZeroPM: Zero pollution of Persistent, Mobile substances, interlinks three strategies: prevention, prioritization and removal. ZeroPM, through its multidisciplinary team, has been developing various tools to guide policy, technological development and the market to minimize use, emissions and pollution of PFAS and other PMT/vPvM substances.
