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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl pollution in marine environments: a viewpoint about Africa
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This viewpoint paper examines per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) pollution in African marine environments, highlighting a critical data gap and calling for targeted monitoring of these persistent contaminants across the continent.
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represent an extensive and expanding group of chemicals considered contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). These elements have found widespread usage in diverse industrial and commercial sectors since the 1940s. The advancement of modern analytical methods in developed countries has significantly contributed to the increased research on the environmental behavior and risk assessment of PFAS. However, what about developing countries? Over time, the focus on PFAS has expanded beyond legacy PFAS to encompass novel ones. In this perspective, we focus on analyzing the existing knowledge concerning PFAS in the marine environment, aiming to shed light on the limited research pertaining to per- and polyfluoroalkyl pollution in the marine ecosystems of Africa.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.