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The role of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in medical devices and delivery systems: Why the electrophysiologist should care
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This review explains that PFAS chemicals span two distinct classes with very different risk profiles: small water-soluble compounds like PFOA and PFOS are environmental hazards, while fluoropolymers—a separate PFAS class—are essential components of medical devices and cardiac electrophysiology tools due to their unique physical properties.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of more than 12,000 chemicals, often referred to as “forever chemicals.” They fall into distinct classes with vastly different chemical, biological, and toxicologic properties. Small-molecule, water-soluble PFAS, such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), are hazardous substances1 and are considered water and environmental contaminants by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Another class of PFAS, known as fluoropolymers, possesses unique qualities critical to medical devices and tools used in cardiac electrophysiology, the manufacturing processes of those tools and devices, and the procedural delivery of those devices.
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What Do We Know About Per- or Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs)? Issues, Challenges, Regulations, and Possible Alternatives
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This review distinguishes between low-molecular-weight PFAS compounds, which are toxic, mobile, and bioaccumulative, and high-molecular-weight fluoropolymers classified as low-concern, while surveying the evolving regulatory landscape in Europe and the US and exploring potential alternatives as restrictions tighten globally.
Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): Do They Matter to Aquatic Ecosystems?
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This review examines PFAS, the persistent 'forever chemicals' widely used in consumer products, and their growing threat to aquatic ecosystems. Evidence indicates that PFAS accumulate in aquatic organisms, disrupt hormones, and can alter how other pollutants behave in the environment. The research is relevant to microplastic concerns because PFAS are commonly found in plastic products and can leach from microplastics into water.
Forever Chemicals, Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), in Lubrication
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This review examines how PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), known as forever chemicals, are used in lubricants and greases across automotive and industrial applications, and how they enter the environment through these products. PFAS exposure is a growing health concern because these chemicals accumulate in the body and have been linked to immune system problems, cancer, and developmental issues in humans.
The universe of fluorinated polymers and polymeric substances and potential environmental impacts and concerns
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This review paper looks at "forever chemicals" (PFAS) used to make things stain- and water-resistant, and points out that a whole category called polymeric PFAS, including so-called fluoropolymers found in products like non-stick coatings, has been largely overlooked by scientists and regulators despite being labeled "low concern." The catch: these materials can break down and release smaller, more clearly harmful PFAS chemicals into the environment, meaning the contamination problem we already know about from PFAS may be bigger than currently tracked. The authors argue we urgently need more research to understand the real-world health and environmental risks these polymers p
Workflow level release of microplastics, nanoplastics, and perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances during simulated neurovascular interventions
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A lab study found that catheters and devices used to treat brain blood clots and aneurysms can shed tiny plastic particles and "forever chemicals" (PFAS) into fluids during the procedure. This suggests patients may be exposed to these contaminants during treatment, highlighting a need for further safety testing of medical device materials.
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