Environmental Fate and Toxicology of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) comprise a vast class of synthetic fluorinated compounds renowned for their chemical stability and resistance to degradation. Their strong carbon–fluorine bonds confer extreme persistence in the environment, allowing release from industrial sites, consumer products and firefighting foams to accumulate in soil, water and air. PFAS exhibit high mobility in aquatic systems, long-range atmospheric transport and the potential to bioaccumulate and biomagnify through food webs. Key environmental processes include partitioning between water and organic matter, limited biodegradation and formation of secondary persistent by-products. Toxicologically, certain long-chain PFAS such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) have been linked in animal studies to liver toxicity, developmental delays, immune suppression and tumour formation. Human epidemiological evidence points to associations with altered lipid metabolism, immunotoxicity, endocrine disruption and reduced birth weight. Emerging research on short-chain PFAS alternatives highlights concerns over enhanced mobility, persistent background exposures and unresolved human health effects. Remediation strategies under investigation encompass granular activated carbon, ion-exchange resins and advanced oxidation processes, yet effective treatment of diverse PFAS mixtures remains a global challenge.

Research from Nature Portfolio

No recent Nature Portfolio content available.

Environmental Fate and Toxicology of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in environmental fate and toxicology of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): A broad family of synthetic compounds containing multiple carbon–fluorine bonds, used for their water- and oil-repellent properties.

Persistent organic pollutant (POP): A chemical resistant to environmental breakdown that persists for long periods, often capable of long-range transport.

Bioaccumulation: The process by which organisms absorb and retain chemicals at higher concentrations than those in surrounding media.

Biomagnification: The increase in concentration of a substance in organisms at successively higher levels of a food chain.

Long-range atmospheric transport: The movement of chemical pollutants over large distances through the atmosphere, leading to deposition far from emission sources.

References

1. An overview of the uses of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Environmental Science Processes & Impacts (2020).
2. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in consumer products. Environmental Science and Pollution Research (2015).
3. Epidemiologic Evidence on the Health Effects of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA). Environmental Health Perspectives (2010).
4. Perfluorinated Chemicals and Fetal Growth: A Study within the Danish National Birth Cohort. Environmental Health Perspectives (2007).
5. Short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids: environmental concerns and a regulatory strategy under REACH. Environmental Sciences Europe (2018).
6. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water and wastewater: A critical review of their global occurrence and distribution. The Science of The Total Environment (2021).
7. Rate of Decline in Serum PFOA Concentrations after Granular Activated Carbon Filtration at Two Public Water Systems in Ohio and West Virginia. Environmental Health Perspectives (2009).
8. Toxicology of perfluorinated compounds. Environmental Sciences Europe (2011).