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The effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on environmental and human microorganisms and their potential for bioremediation
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This review summarizes how per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) affect microbial populations across soils, aquatic environments, and the human microbiome. Researchers found that some bacterial species thrive in PFAS-contaminated environments while others are significantly inhibited, and certain microbes show promise for bioremediation of these persistent pollutants. The findings suggest that understanding microbial responses to PFAS could open new avenues for environmental cleanup strategies.
Utilised in a variety of consumer products, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are major environmental contaminants that accumulate in living organisms due to their highly hydrophobic, lipophobic, heat-resistant, and non-biodegradable properties. This review summarizes their effects on microbial populations in soils, aquatic and biogeochemical systems, and the human microbiome. Specific microbes are insensitive to and even thrive with PFAS contamination, such as Escherichia coli and the Proteobacteria in soil and aquatic environments, while some bacterial species, such as Actinobacteria and Chloroflexi, are sensitive and drop in population. Some bacterial species, in turn, have shown success in PFAS bioremediation, such as Acidimicrobium sp. and Pseudomonas parafulva.
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Probiotic and Microbial Enzymatic Mechanisms for PFAS Detoxification
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This review examines microbial and enzymatic mechanisms — including oxygenases, reductive dehalogenases, and gut microbiota sequestration — capable of transforming or partially degrading PFAS 'forever chemicals,' while noting that complete mineralization remains elusive. PFAS are co-contaminants frequently found sorbed to microplastics in environmental samples, making probiotic and microbial degradation strategies highly relevant for combined exposure remediation.
Soil microbial Taxonomy and functional attributes under the combined stress of MPs and PFASs.
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This study examined how combined exposure to microplastics (PE, PS, PVC) and PFAS compounds affects soil microbial communities, finding that PFASs reduced bacterial diversity while microplastics acted as carriers that amplified contaminant bioavailability, together disrupting community structure and key metabolic functions including defense and lipid metabolism.
Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the Environment: Uptake, Bioaccumulation and Impact on Plants, Animals and Human Health
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A comprehensive review documents that PFAS compounds have been detected in virtually every environmental compartment and human matrix, causing reproductive toxicity, endocrine disruption, metabolic disruption, and immune effects across aquatic organisms, terrestrial animals, and humans. PFAS and microplastics share key exposure pathways and are frequently co-contaminants, as plastic surfaces sorb and transport PFAS into food chains and human bodies.
Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the Environment: Uptake, Bioaccumulation and Impact on Plants, Animals and Human Health
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A comprehensive review documents that PFAS compounds have been detected in virtually every environmental compartment and human matrix globally, driving reproductive toxicity, endocrine disruption, and metabolic and immune effects across aquatic organisms, terrestrial animals, and humans. PFAS and microplastics frequently co-occur as plastic surfaces adsorb and transport PFAS through food webs and into human tissues, compounding total chemical body burden.
Industrial Applications, Environmental Fate, Human Exposure, and Health Effects of PFAS
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This research investigated how tire wear particles affect freshwater invertebrate communities, documenting toxicity of common tire rubber chemicals leached from plastic particles. The study identifies tire-derived chemicals, particularly 6-PPD-quinone, as highly toxic to aquatic invertebrates, connecting road runoff to aquatic biodiversity loss.
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