These chemicals, or PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), are a group of over 10,000 synthetic, human-made chemicals used since the 1940s to make products water, grease and stain-resistant.
The chemicals do not break down easily in the environment and accumulate in the human body, posing health risks.
Consumer and environmental groups have cautioned that piecemeal regulation risks prolonging widespread exposure to cancer, immune system weakening and reduced fertility.
They urged the authorities to set strict limits for PFAS in drinking water and food, improve monitoring and disclosure, and ultimately prohibit the production and use of these chemicals which have been linked to long-term environmental and health risks.
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Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) honorary secretary Mageswari Sangaralingam said Malaysia should regulate PFAS and phase out its use entirely, pointing out that global efforts are increasingly focused on banning these chemicals.
“The government should regulate PFAS, ban production and use of all PFAS compounds. Globally, there is a need to ban PFAS and prohibit its use in products,” she said when contacted yesterday.
Mageswari said PFAS are commonly found in non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, food packaging and cosmetics, many of which have safer alternatives.
“Drinking water constitutes one of the most important sources of exposure to PFAS for humans.
“Even relatively low levels of PFAS in drinking water can lead to significant burdens in blood serum over a lifetime period,” she said.
She advised consumers to avoid non-stick cookware, limit the use of grease-resistant packaging, use certified water filters and opt for PFAS-free products where possible.
Mageswari also said there is a need to clean up contaminated waterways and drinking water sources, and also ensure treatment facilities are equipped to remove PFAS compounds effectively.
Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) chief executive officer Dr T. Saravanan backed the view for stronger government intervention.
“There is a need to set clear safety limits for these chemicals in drinking water and food, and regularly check and share this information with the public.
“Without this, consumers are left in the dark about what they are exposed to,” he said.
Saravanan said the government should control and reduce PFAS use in daily products, especially when safer alternatives exist, while also improving product labelling to help consumers make informed choices.
He also called for companies responsible for pollution to be held accountable.
“They should also bear the cost of cleaning up the contamination,” he said, adding that more local research and public education were needed.
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) president Meenakshi Raman said PFAS should be banned entirely, warning that partial restrictions only risked replacing one harmful chemical with another.
“Its wide usage has to be stopped through a ban. We need to check global PFAS contamination and avert a global human rights and environmental disaster,” she said.
Meenakshi said while some PFAS are restricted under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, many remain unregulated.
The Stockholm Convention is a global treaty adopted in 2001 and effective since 2004, to protect human health and the environment by restricting or eliminating production and use of highly dangerous, long-lasting toxic chemicals.
Malaysia signed the convention in 2002 but never ratified it.
“We propose that countries, including Malaysia, address PFAS chemicals as a class and ban them altogether.
“This will reduce the prospect of replacing one toxic type of PFAS with another,” she added.
Meenakshi said PFAS contamination is widespread, affecting water, soil, air and food, and could accumulate in ecosystems and wildlife over time.
“Their extreme stability means they do not break down easily, leading to long-term pollution and bio accumulation across the environment,” she said.
