Transition Toward the Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance-Free Environment: Is it Possible?

Publications

Transition Toward the Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance-Free Environment: Is it Possible?

Year : 2025

Publisher : wiley

Source Title : PFAS in the Environment: Occurrence, Characterization, Treatment, and Management

Document Type :

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), the “Forever Chemicals,” with their exceptional chemical, thermal, and functional stability, have gained tremendous usability since the 1940s; therefore, over time, have become an intrinsic part of the industry-consumer nexus. These celebrated properties of PFAS have made them structurally stable and persistent in the environment. However, the toxicity, bio-cumulative/magnification properties, and solubility of these forever chemicals have raised concerns for their detection and an imperative need for their removal and remediation. Furthermore, a wide gap is still persistent in the understanding of the fate, effects, and treatment of PFAS within different stakeholders of the industry-commerce-consumer-mitigator network. To tackle this problem of forever chemicals, research has suggested and come up with many PFAS-free alternatives. Owing to the heavy reliance of many essential sectors on PFAS, the production of similarly efficient and feasible PFAS-free alternatives is a challenging task. The transition to PFAS-free alternatives requires the participation of different stakeholders with different social, economic, and legislative perspectives. Therefore, a sustainable transition to PFAS-free alternatives requires an understanding of the existing PFAS remediation technologies, social awareness about PFAS problems, dependency of industries on PFAS, and policies regulating PFAS use. This chapter explores the possibility of a PFAS-free environment by briefly analyzing different available PFAS remediation technologies, social constructs around PFAS, legislation controlling PFAS use, and the feasibility of transitioning toward the alternatives. Further, the chapter also points out the key factors that still need exploration and improvement to attain an uncertain yet hopeful PFAS-free future.