Life Cycle Considerations for Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) and the Evolution of Society’s Perspective on Their Usage

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are an expansive class of highly-fluorinated anthropogenic organic compounds that were developed for demanding speciality uses. Exceptional chemical properties led them to be incorporated in consumer products, industrial products, and industrial processes. Their extensive production and widespread application ultimately led to environmental release. Certain members of these compounds were found to be ubiquitous throughout the environment and in biota, having been transported to even the most remote locations. Findings of negative health outcomes associated with the biological occurrence of two particular PFASs (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, or PFOS, and perfluorooctanoic acid) spurred a legislative movement to cope with the potential hazards of PFAS usage. Meanwhile, the scientific community embarked on a diverse research effort to understand PFAS life cycle considerations including production levels and utilization, environmental release and occurrence, environmental transformation, biological exposure and occurrence, and epidemiologyEpidemiology. Furthermore, significant efforts are underway to understand how PFAS release can be prevented, and how to remediate contaminated matrices. Many of the properties making PFASs useful cause unique challenges for their ongoing management. An equilibrium has yet to be fully established between the clear utility provided by using PFASs and the associated risk.