Published June 2024
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of over several thousand fluorinated organic synthetic compounds with wide uses in industrial and consumer applications. According to a recent survey conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2021, more than 4,700 PFAS could have already been on the global market [8; 15; 53; 62; 137; 198]. PFAS are known for imparting heatproof, nonstick (oleophobic), water resistant (hydrophobic) and other properties to products, and therefore can be found in applications such as apparel, electronics, fertilizers, fire extinguishing foams, food packaging, nonstick products, paint, paper and personal care products [14; 15; 15a; 35; 220].
However, PFAS are also known to have high mobility, persistence and tendency to bioaccumulate in the environment. As a result of their extensive use and high persistence, PFAS are now ubiquitous in the environment and found in the remotest locations in the world [31; 111; 184; 209]. More commonly called the ‘forever chemicals,’ they include chemicals such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (GenX chemicals), etc. [221]. Furthermore, growing research on PFAS has linked them with potential human and environmental health effects, including cancer, decreased fertility, hormone suppression, high cholesterol, liver damage, thyroid disease and obesity in humans and animals [6; 21; 63; 106; 127; 204].
In this review, we consolidate and summarize the current state of PFAS research from information available in public literature. This review will answer questions such as:
- What are PFAS?
- Where are PFAS used?
- Why should we be concerned about PFAS?
- What are the human health, environmental and socioeconomic effects of PFAS?
- What is the state of regulation around PFAS?
- What are the technologies available for treating and cleaning up PFAS?
Additionally, the review highlights the necessity of taking action to monitor and manage risks from PFAS across their life cycle, collaboration among different stakeholders, and more research into PFAS cleaning technologies and the development of alternatives.