PFASs have been have been around for 60 years. India has no PFAS-specific drinking-water limit under the current IS 10500:2012 standard, although this could change.
| Photo Credit: AFP
Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemical compounds that contain multiple carbon-fluorine bonds. PFAS materials are used in coatings, textiles, and several industrial products. They are also notorious for resisting degradation and can contaminate the environment for a very long time.
Many studies from different parts of India have already found PFAS in water sources. Conventional water treatment systems that can remove these compounds are not yet commercially available even as the extent of PFAS contamination across India remains unclear.
In a 2025 review in the Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances, scientists examined monitoring and regulations across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. The review’s first author, Rajneesh Kumar Gautam, of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, said the evidence establishes that PFAS contamination in India is a legitimate concern but that its national extent is poorly defined, thanks in part to differences in the way different research groups test and analyse PFAS.
Published – October 14, 2026 09:00 am IST