‘Forever chemicals’ found in Indian water; plants cannot remove them, standard sets no limit

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The news

Lucknow. Studies across India have found PFAS, synthetic compounds with several carbon–fluorine bonds that barely break down, in water (The Hindu). A 2024 IIT-Madras study in Chennai found all eight target PFAS 5% to 103% higher in treated water than in raw water, probably as precursors turned into stable PFAS. A July 16 study found 38 of 77 PFAS tested in seawater and sewage around Visakhapatnam. Conventional biological treatment cannot remove them. In 2025 the IARC classed PFOA as “carcinogenic to humans” and PFOS as “possibly carcinogenic”. India has no regulation banning PFAS manufacture and no PFAS limit in IS 10500:2012, which is under revision; a BIS working group is examining limits. Stockholm Convention parties have listed PFOS (2009), PFOA (2019) and PFHxS (2022), per its secretariat.

Prelims nuggets

IS 10500:2012 is the Bureau of Indian Standards’ drinking-water specification; BIS is a statutory body under the BIS Act, 2016.
The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants was adopted in May 2001 and entered into force in May 2004; India ratified it on 13 January 2006.
Stockholm Convention Annex A lists chemicals for elimination, Annex B for restriction; PFOS is in Annex B, PFOA and PFHxS in Annex A.