The current status of PFAS as environmental and health pollutants: Sources, impacts, mitigation, and policy

Over the past century, we have witnessed many cases where an exciting family of compounds with exemplary industrial qualities is developed and later found to be problematic to both human and/or environmental health. Of these manmade compounds, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have shown a strong resilience to degradation especially under natural environmental conditions. These compounds include DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) , CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons) , halons, and TCE/TCP (Trichloroethylene/Tocopherols) among others with the most recent addition and arguably the most environmentally pervasive and resilient chemical group being per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The versatility and unique properties of PFAS, unlike other POPs, has allowed them to dominate the global market and permeate hundreds of different industries thus causing them to be an ongoing and multi-tiered problem across the federal, industrial, municipal, environmental and healthcare sectors. This review will highlight global challenges posed by PFAS from a production, pollution, remediation, health, and policy perspective and needs for further research and intervention.