Barbara Bekavac, epidemiologist at the Croatian Institute of Public Health, clarified the health risks of PFAS compounds found in groundwater, but emphasized that the finding itself does not mean residents have fallen ill.
Following the alarming news that PFAS compounds were found in groundwater downstream from an illegal waste disposal site in Bilajska Street in Gospić, the public is rightly concerned about their health. To clarify the uncertainties, Barbara Bekavac, a specialist in epidemiology at the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ), explained in detail for RTL Danas what these substances are and what consequences long-term exposure may have.
PFAS is an acronym for a large group of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, synthetic chemicals used in industry and consumer products since the mid-20th century. Due to their incredible persistence and resistance to degradation, they have earned the unofficial nickname "forever chemicals." "They can be found in cookware, food packaging, cosmetics, textiles, electronics, and many other products," Bekavac explained. This very persistence is the core of the problem, as PFAS compounds linger in the environment for a long time and can accumulate in water, soil, food, and ultimately in the human body.
Speaking about specific health consequences, Bekavac warned that it is not easy to determine the exact effect of each individual substance because the PFAS group encompasses a large number of different compounds. Nevertheless, scientific research to date has linked certain PFAS to a range of serious conditions, including reduced fertility, high blood pressure during pregnancy, and other reproductive health issues.
Additionally, exposure to these chemicals has been associated with reduced immune system effectiveness, including a weaker response to some vaccines. Effects on child development, such as lower birth weight, have also been observed. Other effects under investigation include elevated cholesterol levels, changes in liver enzymes, and disruptions in the hormonal system.
Particularly concerning is the association with certain types of cancer. "Exposure to certain PFAS compounds is linked to an increased risk of specific cancers, including kidney, testicular, and prostate cancer," Bekavac stated, emphasizing that this is an association established in research, not a claim that every exposed person will develop the disease.
Bekavac particularly stressed that the published data for Gospić do not automatically mean that the residents have already suffered the aforementioned health consequences. PFAS was detected in groundwater, but previous expert analysis has not shown that the public water supply system is contaminated, nor has it been proven that residents came into contact with the measured levels through water consumption.
The health risk actually depends on several factors: which compound is involved, its concentration, the duration of exposure, and the route of contact. Due to the vast number of different PFAS compounds, their varying toxicity, and simultaneous exposure from multiple sources, scientists cannot yet precisely determine a safety threshold for each compound beyond which health effects will occur. "Therefore, health risk cannot be assessed based on a single sampling result," she concluded.
The finding in Gospić is thus not proof of illness, but above all a strong warning. It confirms the local impact of waste and points to the urgent need for remediation of the landfill and continued monitoring of water, soil, and all potential exposure pathways. To obtain a more reliable result, it is necessary to determine the extent of contamination, conduct measurements over a longer period, and investigate whether there is a real pathway for PFAS to reach humans, for example through drinking water or food products.
