Environment Trout and pike in lakes in western Switzerland with excessive PFAS levels
Trout and pike in the lakes of French-speaking Switzerland contain excessive levels of the chemical group PFAS. This could call their marketability into question, as the canton of Vaud announced.
07.04.2025, 12:05
07.04.2025, 17:06
SDA
Since January 1, 2024, the chemists of the French-speaking cantons have been carrying out an inventory of the contamination of fish with perfluoroalkylated and polyfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) that originate from lakes in French-speaking Switzerland and are intended for sale. For this purpose, a sampling campaign was organized in the cantons of Fribourg, Geneva, Neuchâtel and Vaud, as the canton of Vaud wrote. These cantons are home to the majority of the professional fishing industry in French-speaking Switzerland.
The investigations are related to the introduction of maximum PFAS levels in the Contaminants Ordinance of the Federal Department of Home Affairs, which has been in force since August 1, 2024. The aim is to minimize consumer exposure to PFAS, particularly in certain foods of animal origin. This also includes fish meat.
Trout and pike with excessive levels
Between May and December 2024, 146 fish were sampled from Lake Geneva, Lake Neuchâtel, Lake Murten and Lac de Joux. The most commonly consumed fish species were tested: perch, whitefish, pike, roach, trout and zander. The analyses carried out show that, in contrast to trout and pike, perch, roach and zander were below the applicable legal limits.
The results show that there is a high probability that trout and pike have PFAS levels that are too high. However, as the random samples are not very numerous, especially for trout, it is now necessary for the industry and professional fishermen to evaluate more closely as part of their self-regulation whether these two species can still be marketed.
Further investigations are planned for the current year as part of national campaigns. In cooperation with the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office, discussions are being held on cases in which legal levels are found to have been exceeded.
PFAS chemicals are harmful
PFAS have been produced by industry for decades and form a group of chemicals that are difficult to break down. They have been used in various industrial processes and products such as textiles, electronic devices, paper coatings, paints, fire-fighting foams and ski wax. Adverse effects associated with exposure to these substances have been identified, including reduced immune response in children or liver and kidney toxicity.
According to the press release, knowledge about the long-term effects of PFAS on humans is still very incomplete. In view of this worrying data, the use of some of the most common molecules has been banned or restricted.
