EU plans tighter controls on pollution as doctors call for urgent action

Stricter standards will tackle fine particulates and PFAS and require polluters to pay for cleanups

The EU executive has proposed tighter controls on pollutants and chemicals that harm air quality and foul lakes, rivers and seas, but health campaigners said the plans lacked urgency.

As part of a major reform of the EU's anti-pollution legislation, the European Commission said it planned to tighten air quality standards, including on one of the most dangerous air pollutants, fine particulate matter. Water standards are also going to be stricter, with 25 substances added to a control list, such as the category of forever chemicals" PFAS, the substance Bisphenol A, pesticides including glyphosate, and antibiotics.