The extreme persistence of PFAS

By admin3485, 16 July 2025

The many PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances) share the common characteristic of being persistent in the environment due to the strength of the carbon-fluorine bonds they contain.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds, better known as PFAS, are chemical substances whose specific properties are exploited in many everyday products.

The widespread and varied use of these chemical compounds, combined with their highly persistent nature, leads to pollution of all environments: water, air, soil, and sediments. Some accumulate in living organisms, both plants and animals, and end up in the food chain.

Others, more mobile, are transported over very long distances by water or air and can reach the oceans, even over long distances.

 

 

What are PFAS? PFAS represent a vast family of several thousand chemical compounds. Non-stick, waterproofing, and heat-resistant, these substances have been widely used since the 1950s in various industrial applications and everyday consumer products: textiles, food packaging, firefighting foams, refrigerants, non-stick coatings, cosmetics, medical devices, plant protection products, etc.

The many PFAS have in common their persistence in the environment due to the strength of the carbon-fluorine bonds they contain.

What are the sources of exposure to PFAS?

These properties of, mobility, and accumulation in living organisms have led, over the years, to increasing exposure of the human population to PFAS. …seafood, eggs, and meat are the foods that contribute most to exposure to PFOS and PFOA. Drinking water can also be a source of exposure, as can indoor and outdoor air, dust, and contaminated soil.

Occupational exposure to PFAS can occur in several industrial sectors, including the chemical industry, textile processing, electronics manufacturing, and firefighting applications.

The highest levels of exposure are found among workers at PFAS manufacturing sites.