On average, fish in Lake Lugano have up to ten times more PFAS chemicals. There is no ban on catching or selling – the federal government is reassuring.
The fish in Lake Lugano have too many PFAS chemicals. (Symbolic image) – keystone
The most important thing in brief
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Fish in Lake Lugano contain alarming levels of PFAS chemicals.
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Despite exceeding the limit ten times, there is no ban on catching or selling.
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The federal government reassures that there is no acute health risk.
These results from the canton of Ticino are alarming: alarming amounts of PFAS chemicals were discovered in fish in Lake Lugano. The measured values exceed the permissible limits by an average of ten times!
PFAS chemicals refer to a group of industrial chemicals that are difficult to degrade. They have been used for decades in the production of Teflon-coated frying pans, firefighting foam and water-repellent rain jackets.
These eternity chemicals can build up in the human body and potentially cause cancer.
“No acute health risk”
The current study was carried out by Italian and Swiss researchers on behalf of the canton. Studies on PFAS contamination in fish were carried out a decade ago. But the current study shows that the situation has not improved since then.
The head of the cantonal office for air, water and soil protection describes this fact to RSI as “sobering”.
The fish in Lake Lugano have too high a chemical load. – keystone
The fishery is alarmed. (Symbolic image) – keystone
PFAS can be carcinogenic. – keystone
Despite the high chemical levels, there is neither a ban on catching nor selling the affected fish from Lake Lugano. This is because food legislation provides no basis for such bans. The canton would have to make a corresponding decision.
However, the Federal Office for Food Safety (BLV) reassures SRF: “There is no acute health risk.” She adds that more scientific data is needed to fully understand the effects of PFAS in food.
Pisces consider discussion to be “threatening their existence”
The BLV plans to carry out more analyzes of animal and plant products in the coming year. Based on these results, the federal government will decide on further measures – possibly also introducing stricter maximum values for PFAS chemicals.
Reto Leuch, President of the Swiss Professional Fishermen’s Association, considers the discussion about polluted fish to be harmful for his industry: “Today you can detect things that you couldn’t 20 years ago,” he tells SRF. He emphasizes that PFAS chemicals are found everywhere.
“People are scared,” says Leuch. He warns of “existence-threatening” consequences for fishing.
