HARMFUL so-called "forever chemicals" have been found in water samples taken across Scotland, officials have said.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said it detected polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at 89% of surface water sites and at 57% of its ground water sites.
PFAS have been linked to certain types of cancer and are dubbed “forever chemicals” by Sepa, given some of them can take thousands of years to break down naturally.
Sepa warned no samples retrieved were up to environmental standards.
The data covers samples taken in 2025 from 97 surface water sites and 37 ground water sites.
Sepa has been monitoring such substances since 2009, and said PFAS concentrations in Scotland are generally lower than those detected in England.
The researchers concluded in the 2025 PFAS Water Quality Monitoring Report that further monitoring should continue this year, and that their monitoring network may potentially have to be expanded.
Professor Paul Dale, Sepa's chief regulator, said: “PFAS are being detected more widely around the world and, given how extensively they have been used for decades, their presence in Scotland’s water environment is not unexpected.
“It is understandable that people have questions about PFAS and what these findings mean. This expanded monitoring programme gives us a clearer understanding of where PFAS are present across Scotland and helps identify where further investigation and future regulatory effort may be needed.
“Environmental monitoring helps us understand where substances are present in the environment, but monitoring data alone does not determine human health risk and should not be interpreted as evidence of direct impacts on human health.
“PFAS are a complex environmental challenge that will require long-term action across governments, regulators and industry.
“By continuing to strengthen the evidence base, we can ensure future decisions are informed by the best available science and targeted where they will have the greatest environmental benefit.”
