Biophotoelectrochemistry for the treatment of emerging contaminants

Emerging contaminants(ECs)of significant concern are widely distributed throughout the environment due to various industrial practices and human activities.Given the alarming ecological threats and potential risks that ECs pose to human health and aquatic life,even at trace concentrations,it is imperative to develop innovative technologies to effectively address these challenges.The biophotoelectrochemistry(BPEC)system,which integrates microbial cells with photosensitizers for solar-tochemical conversion,holds great potential as an efficient strategy for the removal of ECs.In this review,we provide new insights into the BPEC system for the ECs treatment by systematically summarizing the classification,sources,and environmental occurrence of ECs.Additionally,we explore the research progress and degradation mechanisms in ECs removal with BPEC.Finally,the current challenges and future perspectives for the applications of the BPEC system in the ECs treatment are analyzed.This review aims to promote the development of BPEC technology for ECs treatment,offering a promising prospect for environmental remediation,circular economy,and clean-energy production.

Water self-purification via electron donation effect of emerging contaminants arousing oxygen activation over ordered carbonenhanced CoFe quantum dots

The release of emerging contaminants(ECs)into aquatic environments poses a significant risk to global water security.Advanced oxidation processes(AOPs),while effective in removing ECs,are often resource and energy-intensive.Here,we introduce a novel catalyst,CoFe quantum dots embedded in graphene nanowires(CoFeQds@GN-Nws),synthesized through anaerobic polymerization.It uniquely features electron-rich and electron-poor micro-regions on its surface,enabling a self-purification mechanism in wastewater.This is achieved by harnessing the internal energy of wastewater,particularly the bonding energy of pollutants and dissolved oxygen(DO).It demonstrates exceptional efficiency in removing ECs at ambient temperature and pressure without the need for external oxidants,achieving a removal rate of nearly 100.0%.The catalyst's structure-activity relationship reveals that CoFe quantum dots facilitate an unbalanced electron distribution,forming these micro-regions.This leads to a continuous electrondonation effect,where pollutants are effectively cleaved or oxidized.Concurrently,DO is activated into superoxide anions(O_(2)^(·-)),synergistically aiding in pollutant removal.This approach reduces resource and energy demands typically associated with AOPs,marking a sustainable advancement in wastewater treatment technologies.

Oxidation of emerging organic contaminants by in-situ H_(2)O_(2) fenton system

The existence and risk of emerging organic contaminants(EOCs)have been under consideration and paid much effort to degrade these pollutants.Fenton system is one of the most widely used technologies to solve this problem.The original Fenton system relies on the hydroxyl radicals produced by Fe(Ⅱ)/H_(2)O_(2) to oxidize the organic contaminants.However,the application of the Fenton system is limited by its low iron cycling efficiency and the high risks of hydrogen peroxide transportation and storage.The introduction of external energy(including light and electricity etc.)can effectively promote the Fe(Ⅲ)/Fe(Ⅱ)cycle and the reduction of oxygen to produce hydrogen peroxide in situ.This review introduces three in-situ Fenton systems,which are electro-Fenton,Photo-Fenton,and chemical reaction.The mechanism,influencing factors,and catalysts of these three in-situ Fenton systems in degrading EOCs are discussed systematically.This review strengthens the understanding of Fenton and in-situ Fenton systems in degradation,offering further insight into the real application of the in-situ Fenton system in the removal of EOCs.

A Review on Emerging Contaminants: Effects on Human Health and Cancer Risks

Emerging contaminants are growing health concerns that pose potential threats to the environment and human health globally.They originate from multiple sources,including rapid industrial processes,agriculture,households,and wastewater treatment plants.Despite efforts to reduce the levels of such pollutants,these harmful elements remain a serious problem for public health and the overall quality of life.Exposure to emerging contaminants can lead to various health problems,including cardiovascular diseases,brain and developmental disorders,and cancer.These contaminants can harm aquatic life,disrupt ecosystems,and contaminate drinking water sources.Cancer,a complex heterogeneous disease,can be triggered by multiple causes,including genetic and environmental factors.The rapid increase in emerging contaminants has contributed significantly to the development and proliferation of cancer.This review highlights the dangerous effects of exposure to these contaminants and explores future directions in research.Additionally,it summarizes the emerging roles of inorganic contaminants,such as engineered nanoparticles,and biological contaminants,including pathogenic bacteria,antibiotic-resistant bacteria and resistance genes,viruses,protein contaminants,microplastics,and nanoplastics,in cancer progression and treatment.

Integrated risk assessment framework for transformation products of emerging contaminants:what we know and what we should know

The continuous input of various emerging contaminants(ECs)has inevitably introduced large amounts of transformation products(TPs)in natural and engineering water scenarios.Structurally similar to the precursor species,the TPs are expected to possess comparative,if not more serious,environmental properties and risks.This review summarizes the state-of-the-art knowledge regarding the integrated risk assessment frameworks of TPs of ECs,mainly involving the exposure-and effectdriven analysis.The inadequate information within existing frameworks that was essential and critical for developing a better risk assessment framework was discussed.The main strategic improvements include(1)non-targeted product analysis in both laboratory and field samples,(2)omics-based highthroughput toxicity assessment,(3)multichannel-driven mode of action in conjugation with effectdirected analysis,and(4)machine learning technology.Overall,this review provides a concise but comprehensive insight into the optimized strategy for evaluating the environmental risks and screening the key toxic products from the cocktail mixtures of ECs and their TPs in the global water cycle.This facilitates deciphering the mode of toxicity in complex chemical mixtures and prioritizing the regulated TPs among the unknown products,which have the potential to be considered a class of novel"ECs"ofgreatconcern.

Analysis of Emerging Contaminants in Surface Water,Aquaculture Ponds and Wastewater Treatment Facilities in the Taige Canal Basin

Emerging contaminants(ECs)have aroused great concerns due to their widespread presence as well as their potential health and ecological risks.Currently monitoring data about ECs in Chinese rural areas are still limited.In this study,Taige Canal basin was selected as a typical rural area for a pilot study.The occurrence of ECs,including pharmaceutical and personal care products(PPCPs),pesticides,plasticizers and flame retardants,in surface water and aquaculture ponds,as well as in wastewater treatment facilities,was comprehensively investigated.The effectiveness of rural decentralized wastewater treatment facilities and centralized wastewater treatment plant(WWTP)in removing ECs was also analyzed.Among 126 commonly used pesticides for target analysis,25 compounds were detected in surface water with high frequency of>80%.Besides,55 PPCPs,21 pesticides and 18 other industrial products were identified by non-target analysis using high resolution mass spectrometry(HRMS).Totally 18 compounds were detected in surface water with a frequency of>60%and 6 of them were found in all samples,including irbesartan,valsartan,propazine,buprofezin,bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate(DEHP)and tri-(2-chloroisopropyl)phosphate(TCPP),with mean concentrations of 3022,195,125,218,3738 and 545 ng/L,respectively.There are 29 compounds(11 PPCPs,8 pesticides and 10 other industrial products)detected in water samples from the aquaculture ponds,of which 13 compounds were found in all three ponds.The removal efficiencies of ECs in wastewater treatment facilities are generally limited,except valsartan(82%–86%),nobiletin(100%)and diisodecylphthalate(100%)were found to be significantly removed.

Advances in Nanomaterial-microbe Coupling System for Removal of Emerging Contaminants

Emerging contaminants are characterized by toxicity,environmental durability,and bioaccumulation.How to effectively remove them has attracted tremendous attention in the field of environmental science and engineering.Nanomaterial-microbe coupling systems driven by photo-electrochemistry have high degradation efficiency and low cost by combining the advantages of nanomaterials and microorganisms in pollutant treatment.This review summarizes the recent development of the nanomaterial-microbe system for the removal of emerging contaminants,which is divided into exogenous nanomaterial-microbe and endogenous nanomaterial-microbe.The interaction mechanism of materials and microorganisms is addressed from the particular perspective of extracellular electron transfer and redox reactions,and the advantages and challenges of the pollutants treatment are analyzed.Furthermore,future applications in the degradation of emerging contaminants in environmental fields have been prospected.

Fabrication of Bi-Bi3O4Cl plasmon photocatalysts for removal of aqueous emerging contaminants under visible light

Photocatalytic oxidation of emerging contaminants(ECs) in water has recently gained extensive attentions. In this study, bismuth oxychloride-based plasmon photocatalysts(BiBiOCl) exhibiting high performance were successfully developed by reducing Bion the surface of BiOCl. Consequently, the photocatalysts were used to remove ECs from water.The effects of developmental process and Bi metal plasmon resonance on the photoelectric performances of Bi-BiOCl were investigated through a series of characterizations. The UV-vis diffuse reflection and photoluminescence spectra revealed that the light absorption range of the photocatalyst gradually increased and the electron recombination rate gradually decreased with the introduction of Bi metals. The optimal removal rates of ciprofloxacin and tetrabromobisphenol A by Bi-BiOCl were 93.8% and 96.4%;the respective reaction rate constants were 5.48 and 4.93 times higher than that of BiOCl. The mechanism study indicated that main reactants in the photocatalytic system were ·O-2radicals and photogenerated holes, and the existence of oxygen vacancies and Bi metals promoted electron transfer in photocatalyst. In conclusion, this research produces a novel, green, highly efficient, and stable visible light photocatalyst for the removal of ECs from water.

Roadmap of environmental health research on emerging contaminants: Inspiration from the studies on engineered nanomaterials

Research on the environmental health of emerging contaminants is critical to understand their risks before causing severe harm.However,the low environmental concentrations,complex behaviors,and toxicology of emerging contaminants present enormous challenges for researchers.Here,we reviewed the research on the environmental health of engineered nanomaterials(ENMs),one of the typical emerging contaminants,to enlighten pathways for future research on emerging contaminants at their initial exploratory stage.To date,some developed pretreatment methods and detection technologies have been established for the determination of ENMs in natural environments.The mechanisms underlying the transfer and transformation of ENMs have been systematically explored in laboratory studies.The mechanisms of ENMs-induced toxicity have also been preliminarily clarified at genetic,cellular,individual,and short food chain levels,providing not only a theoretical basis for revealing the risk change and environmental health effects of ENMs in natural environments but also a methodological guidance for studying environmental health of other emerging contaminants.Nonetheless,due to the interaction of multiple environmental factors and the high diversity of organisms in natural environments,health effects observed in laboratory studies likely differ from those in natural environments.We propose a holistic approach and mesocosmic model ecosystems to systematically carry out environmental health research on emerging contaminants,obtaining data that determine the objectivity and accuracy of risk assessment.

Emerging contaminants as global environmental hazards.A bibliometric analysis

This paper presents a bibliometric analysis of peer-reviewed scientific literature on emerging contaminants published from 2000 through 2019.A total of 4968 documents(among research articles and review papers)collected from Scopus database were analyzed using the VOSviewer 1.6.11 software.According to our results,this topic has been capturing researchers’attention over the years and the latter five years of the analysis timespan corresponds to the period of highest scientific productivity on this subject,when a 70.4%of all analyzed documents were published.United States,China,Spain,Italy and Canada were the tope5 most productive countries in terms of number of published works,while Science of the Total Environment,Chemosphere,Environmental Science and Pollution Research,Environmental Pollution and Water Research stood out as the journals with the highest number of publications,gathering a 31%of papers and 34%of all citations.According to the frequency of author keywords,the main specific research topic assessed by the researchers are the occurrence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in wastewater and the removal of such pollutants by the application of adsorption and advanced oxidation processes.

New Takes on Emerging Contaminants:Preface

Since the 1990s,there has been a strong interest across the environmental science community in characterizing the threats to human health posed by emerging contaminants.Much of this research has focused on pharmaceuticals and personal care products in Europe and North America.However,the range of chemicals evaluated has expanded dramatically over the past three decades.

Emerging contaminants in biosolids:Presence,fate and analytical techniques

Emerging contaminants(ECs)represent a small fraction of the large chemical pollution puzzle where a wide variety of potentially hazardous chemicals reach the environment,and new compounds are continuously synthesized and released in wastewater treatment plants and ultimately in effluent and biosolids.ECs have been classified into various categories;however,this article focuses on the fate of major categories,namely pharmaceutical and personal care products(PPCPs),per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances(PFAS),flame retardants,surfactants,endocrine-disrupting chemicals(EDCs),and microplastics(MPs).These ECs when discharged to sewer and downstream wastewater treatment plants can undergo further transformations and either degrade,persist or convert into by-products which have the potential in some cases to be more hazardous.Because of potential dangerous impacts of the availability of these contaminants in the environment,information on the fate and behavior of these pollutants is highly important to develop new strategies,such as the regulation of chemicals imported into Australia and Australian consumer goods and environmental policies to mitigate them in a sustainable way.Moreover,advanced technologies are required for the detection and identification of novel contaminants emerging in the environment at ultra low levels.The application of chromatographic techniques coupled with mass spectroscopy has provided attractive breakthroughs to detect new emerging contaminants.However,it is crucially important to understand the sensitivity and robustness of these analytical techniques when dealing with complex matrices such as biosolids.In addition,most of the literature was focused on selected compounds or a family of compounds and the existing reviews have paid less attention to examine the formation of metabolites during the wastewater treatment process and their impacts on the ecosystem.This review presents an overview of the presence of different classes of ECs around the world,their quantification from different sources like wastewater(influents or effluents),sludge and biosolids.In addition,the transformation of ECs during the treatment process,the formation of intermediate products and their impacts on the environment are also critically discussed.Three major steps of ECs analysis include sample preparation,extraction and clean-up,and analysis;hence,different methods employed for extraction and clean-up,and analytical techniques for identification are thoroughly discussed,their advantages and limitations are also highlighted.This comprehensive review article is believed to enhance the understanding of ECs in sewage sludge and would be useful to the readers of the relevant communities and various stakeholders to investigate potential technologies to maximize destruction of ECs.

Emerging Organic Contaminants in Chinese Surface Water:Identification of Priority Pollutants

The occurrence and impacts of emerging organic contaminants(EOCs)in the aquatic environment have gained widespread attention over the past two decades.Due to large number of potential contaminants,monitoring campaigns,treatment plants,and proposed regulations should preferentially focus on specific pollutants with the highest potential for ecological and human health effects.In the present study,a multi-criteria screening approach based on hazard and exposure potentials was developed for prioritization of 405 unregulated EOCs already present in Chinese surface water.Hazard potential,exposure potential,and risk quotients for ecological and human health effects were quantitatively analyzed and used to screen contaminants.The hazard potential was defined by contaminant persistence,bioaccumulation,ecotoxicity,and human health effects;similarly,the exposure potential was a function of contaminant concentration and detection frequency.In total,123 compounds passed the preselection process,which involved a priority index equal to the normalized hazard potential multiplied by the normalized exposure potential.Based on the prioritization scheme,11 compounds were identified as top-priority,and 37 chemicals were defined as high-priority.The results obtained by the priority index were compared with four other prioritization schemes based on exposure potential,hazard potential,or risk quotients for ecological effects or human health.The priority index effectively captured and integrated the results from the more simplistic prioritization schemes.Based on identified data gaps,four uncertainty categories were classified to recommend:①regular monitoring,derivation of environmental quality standards,and development of control strategies;②increased monitoring;③fortified hazard assessment;and④increased efforts to collect occurrence and toxicity data.Overall,20 pollutants were recommended as priority EOCs.The prioritized list of contaminants provides the necessary information for authoritative regulations to monitor,control,evaluate,and manage the risks of environmentally-relevant EOCs in Chinese surface water.

Highly efficient degradation of emerging contaminants by magnetic CuO@Fe_(x)O_(y) derived from natural mackinawite(FeS) in the presence of peroxymonosulfate

In this study,natural mackinawite (Fe S),a chalcophilic mineral,was utilized to prepare iron/copper bimetallic oxides (Cu^(O)@Fe_(x)O_(y)) by displacement plating and calcination process.Various characterization methods prove that Cu;is successfully coated on the surface of Fe S,which were further oxidized to Cu^(O),Fe_(3)O_(4)and/or Fe_(2)O_(3)during calcination process,respectively.Cu^(O)@Fe_(x)O_(y)performed highly efficient capacity to activate PMS for the degradation of various emerging pollutants including sulfamethoxazole(SMX),carbamazepine (CBZ),bisphenol A (BPA),2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) and diclofenac (DCF) in aqueous solution.Complete removal of the above pollutants was observed after 8 min of Cu^(O)@Fe_(x)O_(y)/PMS treatment.Taking SMX as an example,the key parameters including Cu^(O)@Fe_(x)O_(y)dosage,PMS dosage and initial p H were optimized.The results show that the catalytic system can be worked in a wide p H range (3.0-9.0).The quenching experiments and electron spin resonance (ESR) test demonstrated that the main reactive oxygen species in Cu^(O)@Fe_(x)O_(y)/PMS system were hydroxyl radicals (^(·)OH) and sulfate radicals(SO_(4)^(·ˉ)),and SO_(4)^(·ˉ)was the primary reactive species.Besides,the influence of coexisting anions (i.e.,Cl^(ˉ),NO_(3)^(ˉ),HCO_(3)^(ˉ)and H_(2)PO_(4)^(ˉ)) for the degradation of SMX was explored.Cu^(O)@Fe_(x)O_(y)/PMS system can maintain good catalytic activity and reusability in different water bodies and long-term running.This work provided a green strategy to fabricate the efficient catalyst in PMS-based advanced oxidation processes.

Characterizing occurrence of emerging organic contaminants in Dinaric karst catchment of Jadro andZrnovnica springs,Croatia

The occurrence of emerging organic contaminants(EOCs)was investigated in vulnerable Dinaric karst catchment of Jadro andZrnovnica springs in Croatia,under varying flow conditions and across three different water resource types(groundwater,springs,and surface water).The maximal EOCs concentration in both springs were observed following autumn recharge events,while during peak discharge no detection above the limits of detection(LOD)was recorded due to dilution process.Contrarily to springs,groundwater from deep borehole exhibited highest total EOCs concentration under low flow conditions,underscoring the considerable karst aquifer vulnerability and its oligotrophic nature.The peak EOCs concentration in karstic Cetina River coincided with the river's lowest discharge.The highest mass flux of 1013 g/day was determined for very mobile pharmaceutical metformin detected in Cetina.The presence of potentially persistent to very persistent compounds,like DEET and 1H-benzotriazole,which exhibited highest detection frequencies across all sampling sites,was observed in association with varying hydrological conditions.Hypotheses regarding the occurrence of identified EOCs include surface contamination infiltrating directly through ponors and highly karstified areas,potential persistence in the epikarst and aquifer matrix,and site-specific contamination sources for compounds such as 1H-benzotriazole,gabapentin,and ketoprofen found in groundwater.To evaluate the risk of inadvertent human exposure to EOCs across various age groups,we utilized measured spring concentrations and calculated drinking water equivalent levels(DWEL),which ranged from 1.4 mg/L for cotinine to 503 mg/L for sucralose,both detected in Jadro spring.Although EOCs concentrations in ng/L are unlikely to pose a significant risk to healthy population,long-term exposure to EOCs mixture remains unknown.Given scarcity of research on EOCs in karst environments on both global and national levels,our study enhances comprehension of their occurrence and behaviour across different karst water resources that hold crucial importance for drinking water supply in regions like Dinarides.

Selective oxidation of emerging organic contaminants in heterogeneous Fenton-like systems

Heterogeneous Fenton-like reaction shows great potential for eliminating organic substances (e.g. emerging organic contaminants (EOCs)) in water, which has been widely explored in recent decades. However, the catalytic mechanisms reported in current studies are extremely complicated because multiple mechanisms coexist and contribute to the removal efficiencies. Most importantly, heterogeneous systems show selective oxidation properties, which are crucial for improving the efficiencies in the catalytic elimination of organic substances. Thus, this critical review summarizes and compares the diverse existing mechanisms (non-radical and radical pathways) in heterogeneous catalytic processes based on recent studies. The typical oxidation mechanisms during selective advanced oxidation of EOCs were systematically discussed based on the following sections, including the selective adsorption and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in photo/electron-Fenton and Fenton-like systems. Moreover, the non-radical pathways are discussed in depth by the singlet oxygen, high-valent metal-oxo, electron transfer process, etc. Moreover, the direct oxidative transfer process for the removal of EOCs was introduced in recent studies. Finally, the cost, feasibility as well as the sustainability of heterogeneous Fenton-like catalysts are summarized. This review offers useful guidance for developing suitable strategies to develop materials for decomposing the organic substrates.

Insights into bacterial resistance to contaminants of emerging concerns and their biodegradation by marine bacteria

Contaminants of Emerging Concern(CECs)are human-made chemicals that remain unregulated.The continuous detection of CECs in aquatic ecosystems,due to their incomplete removal,emphasizes the importance of understanding their fate and impact on the environment and human health.The detrimental effects of CECs on marine eukaryotes are well documented in multiple studies.However,their impact on marine bacteria and their biodegradation by these organisms are not well understood.In this study,two marine bacteria,Priestia sp.35 ODPABA G14 and Rhodococcus sp.23 AHTN G14,previously isolated from submarine sediments,were used.These two strains were tested for their resistance as well as their capacity to degrade different classes of hydrophobic and hydrophilic CECs,including synthetic musks,UV filters,pesticides and pharmaceuticals.Both strains showed high resistance to all of the hydrophobic tested CECs even up to 500 mg L^(-1).Only Ketoprofen was toxic to bacterial cells,particularly to Rhodococcus sp.starting at concentration as low as 4 mg L^(-1).Furthermore,Priestia sp.and Rhodococcus sp.strains exhibited high biodegradation potential,especially for hydrophobic compounds.Although this may not apply to all pollutants,the data presented in this study suggest a positive correlation between marine bacterial resistance to CECs and their high biodegradation potentials.

Guidelines for rational design of high-performance absorbents:A case study of zeolite adsorbents for emerging pollutants in water

Rational design is important to achieve high-performance sorbents used to remove the contaminants of emerging concern(CECs) from water.However, it is hard to propose effective design guidelines due to the lack of a clear understanding of the interaction mechanisms. By means of systematic quantum chemical computations, as a case study, we investigated the interactions between zeolite X/M^(n+)-zeolite X(Si/Al=1,M^(n+)=Cu^(2+) and Ni^(2+)) and three commonly used CECs(namely salicylic acid, carbamazepine and ciprofloxacin) in water to clarify the adsorption mechanisms. Our computations found that anionic salicylic acid cannot be adsorbed by neither zeolite X nor M^(n+)-zeolite X in neutral water due to the high electrostatic repulsion. In comparison, carbamazepine and ciprofloxacin have favorable binding energies with both zeolite X and M^(n+)-zeolite X, and their interactions with M^(n+)-zeolite X are stronger due to the joint effects of H-bond, metal complexation and electrostatic interaction. The adsorption loading of ciprofloxacin, which has a large molecular size, on M^(n+)-zeolite X is limited due to the steric hindrance. In general, steric hindrance, electrostatic interaction, H-bond and metal complexation are dominant factors for the examined systems in this study. Thus, for the design of high-performance absorbing materials, we should fully consider the molecular properties of pollutants(molecular size, surface electrostatic potential and atomic type, etc.), and properly enhance the favorable effects and avoid the unfavorable factors as much as possible under the guidance of the interaction mechanisms.

PFAS: Ecological Implications, Remedial Actions and Ethical Considerations

The C-F bond is one of the strongest in organic chemistry. It is responsible for the great stability of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as “PFAS”, a group of man-made chemicals that include perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Thermal stability, surface activity, dielectric characteristics, chemical resistance, and inertness are just a few of the technical advantages that this group has over hydrocarbons, and since the 1950s, these chemicals have been largely utilized in a variety of domestic and industrial endeavors. The hydrophilic and lipophilic nature of this class of chemicals accounts for its uniqueness. Up until today, the chemistry and ecotoxicology of these chemicals continue to emerge. Issues concerning the destructive power of ignorance expedited by an ineffective regulatory institution continue to show that manufacturing chemicals are insufficient without giving serious thought to issues of openness and humanity’s awareness of its own safety. When discussing the nature of humanity and how it can be defined or redefined, it is important to allude to the significance of integrating business with ethics in its various forms. This paper highlights the importance of holding polluters accountable for PFAS contamination cleanup costs while emphasizing the need for chemical manufacturers to test and disclose the health and environmental effects of PFAS compounds. In addition, the sources, types, properties, applications, distribution, toxicological implications, regulations, and analytical methods associated with PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are explored. The effectiveness of the remedial methods described in this paper needs to be progressively tested while exploring other sustainable approaches.

PFAS: Ecological Implications, Remedial Actions and Ethical Considerations

The C-F bond is one of the strongest in organic chemistry. It is responsible for the great stability of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as “PFAS”, a group of man-made chemicals that include perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Thermal stability, surface activity, dielectric characteristics, chemical resistance, and inertness are just a few of the technical advantages that this group has over hydrocarbons, and since the 1950s, these chemicals have been largely utilized in a variety of domestic and industrial endeavors. The hydrophilic and lipophilic nature of this class of chemicals accounts for its uniqueness. Up until today, the chemistry and ecotoxicology of these chemicals continue to emerge. Issues concerning the destructive power of ignorance expedited by an ineffective regulatory institution continue to show that manufacturing chemicals are insufficient without giving serious thought to issues of openness and humanity’s awareness of its own safety. When discussing the nature of humanity and how it can be defined or redefined, it is important to allude to the significance of integrating business with ethics in its various forms. This paper highlights the importance of holding polluters accountable for PFAS contamination cleanup costs while emphasizing the need for chemical manufacturers to test and disclose the health and environmental effects of PFAS compounds. In addition, the sources, types, properties, applications, distribution, toxicological implications, regulations, and analytical methods associated with PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are explored. The effectiveness of the remedial methods described in this paper needs to be progressively tested while exploring other sustainable approaches.