ロンドン水道水中PFAS濃度は安全範囲内と判明(Major survey of London tap water shows ‘forever chemicals’ within safe limits)

2026-05-12 インペリアル・カレッジ・ロンドン(ICL)

英インペリアル・カレッジ・ロンドンの研究チームは、ロンドンの水道水に含まれるPFAS(有機フッ素化合物、いわゆる「永遠の化学物質」)を大規模調査し、微量のPFASは検出されたものの、英国の安全基準内に収まっていると報告した。PFASは分解されにくく、人体や環境への蓄積が懸念される化学物質で、近年世界的に規制強化が進んでいる。研究ではロンドン各地の水道水サンプルを分析し、健康リスクを評価した結果、現時点で直ちに健康被害を示す濃度ではないことが確認された。一方で研究者らは、PFASは長期蓄積性を持ち、低濃度でも慢性的影響の可能性があるため、継続的な監視と規制の見直しが必要だと指摘している。特に英国の基準値は米国やEUより緩い面があり、今後の国際基準との整合性も課題になるとしている。研究は、水道インフラや環境汚染対策、飲料水安全管理の重要性を改めて示す内容となった。

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都市水道水におけるPFASの発生:英国ロンドンにおける参加型ケーススタディ Occurrence of PFAS in municipal drinking water: a participatory case study in London, UK

Alexandra K. Richardson,Wei-Han Tien,Charlotte IZ O’Hern,William Francis,Sarah Dack,Leon P. Barron and Frédéric B. Píel
Environmental Science:Advances  Published:12 May 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/D6VA00076B

ロンドン水道水中PFAS濃度は安全範囲内と判明(Major survey of London tap water shows ‘forever chemicals’ within safe limits)

Abstract

Globally, per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination has been reported in numerous environmental matrices, and there is a growing body of evidence that links PFAS exposure to adverse health effects. Consuming contaminated drinking water is potentially one of the most common routes of human exposure from these compounds. The spatial and temporal variability of 38 PFAS in 210 household tap water and public water fountains were assessed using a participatory sampling campaign in London, UK. The performance of commercially available water filters to remove PFAS was also assessed. Individual PFAS concentrations ranged from 0.6 ± 0.1 ng L−1 (PFBS) to 9.1 ± 0.2 ng L−1 (PFOS), and total PFAS concentrations ranged from 3 ng L−1 to 41 ng L−1 (mean = 18 ± 8 ng L−1, median = 18 ng L−1). Overall, 100% (n = 210) of all tap drinking water samples tested were within the lowest action threshold currently in place for England (<10 ng L−1 for individual PFAS), and all samples were below the threshold for total PFAS (<100 ng L−1). The daily concentration of PFAS did not substantially vary over the course of a month in three homes tested intensively. The risk to humans posed by four specific PFAS (PFOS, PFOA, PFNA, and PFHxS) in London drinking water was below the weekly tolerable intake established by the European Food Standards Authority (EFSA). Five water filters tested removed at least 85% of all PFAS studied in spiked (50 ng L−1) water samples, therefore providing an effective way to reduce concentrations in regions where such contamination is of greater concern and/or where PFAS are not routinely monitored. Our findings provide reassuring evidence about the quality of municipal drinking water in London and the UK as a whole when considering official measurements made at treatment plants. We also provide benchmark risk assessment data for the future and information to concerned citizens about the quality of tap drinking water.

1102水質管理
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