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Why Aim Toward a PFAS-free Future?
Summary
This paper is not about microplastics — it reviews the environmental persistence, toxicity, and regulatory challenges associated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), the so-called 'forever chemicals,' and argues for transitioning industry toward safer substitutes using green chemistry principles.
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) pose unique challenges to researchers and policymakers alike, from determining the optimal definition of this large and diverse class of chemicals to controlling their release into the environment and finding safer substitutes. Due to the unique properties of the carbon–fluorine bond, PFASs are highly resistant to degradation and remain the only known chemicals to date that repel both oil and water. However, these unique properties of PFASs also contribute to their environmental persistence, global distribution, and accumulation in water, soil, plants, animals, and humans. Despite their widely documented persistence, toxicity, and other hazards, PFASs are still used in hundreds of consumer and industrial products, including applications promoted for climate change mitigation, such as electric vehicle batteries, solar panels, and wind turbines. This chapter provides context for the case studies of identifying safer alternatives to PFASs that follow in subsequent chapters. Many of the problematic uses of PFASs have resulted from attempts to solve other problems. Similarly, replacing PFASs or phasing them out may also lead to trade-offs that must be understood and managed using tools such as alternatives assessment. Transitioning away from PFASs while avoiding regrettable substitutions represents an opportunity for industry to embrace the principles of green and sustainable chemistry in its research and development. A sustainable future cannot be built with unsustainable chemicals.
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