Perfluoroalkyl Substances – An Overview of Their Occurrence, Health Effects and Detection Methods

Abstract

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have gained wider public attention in recent years as environmental pollutants which include perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid. These substances are produced by industry, mainly during the manufacture of polymers or non-stick surfaces. They can enter the environment through waste water or other routes and contaminate drinking water sources or food. Their effects on organisms and human health have been extensively studied and their presence in the body has been attributed to many health complications including cancer. For this reason, limits for PFAS in drinking water have been established and their regulation is being addressed by many governments and international organisations. Chromatographic methods are the current standard for PFAS detection, but new detection methods, mainly optical and electrochemical, are currently being investigated. Examples of these are described in more detail in the text.