Chemicals that could kill.
Chemical Dispersion Layout. (UNEP, 2023)
Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), a group of man-made chemicals, have been globally utilized in various industries since the 1950s. Their widespread use is attributed to their unique properties, leading to their presence in numerous consumer products such as cookware, waterproof textiles, clothing, and firefighting foams. The distinctive structure of PFAS, characterized by robust carbon-fluorine bonds – among the strongest in organic chemistry – and carbon chains, imparts hydrophobic and oleophobic qualities. These desired properties have proven to be so effective in their applications that they have conquered the globe.
PFAS are notoriously resistant to degradation from molecular properties, earning them the moniker of 'forever chemicals.' This resistance has resulted in PFAS becoming pervasive environmental pollutants, detectable in nearly all ecosystems, as well as in nearly the entire populations blood and fluids, along as its dispersion among water sources worldwide whether from the polar ice caps to the Mariana trench. The scale and risk of this contamination necessitate international collaboration for effective management and mitigation.
A significant case study underscoring this issue is the ATSDR's health consultation report on Perfluorochemical Serum Sampling in the vicinity of Decatur, Alabama. This investigation highlights the extensive human exposure to PFAS and its potential health implications. The report reveals that PFAS exposure is linked to various health risks, including hormonal disruption and an increased risk of cancer.
PFAS also can bind to proteins in the human body, which is a key factor in their bioaccumulation and potential toxic effects. This binding affinity, particularly for serum albumin and liver fatty acid-binding proteins, plays a significant role in their distribution and persistence within the body. The liver, being a central organ for metabolism and detoxification, is particularly susceptible to PFAS-induced toxicity. PFAS exposure can lead to liver damage, potentially through mechanisms involving oxidative stress and disruption of lipid metabolism.
These findings, among others, underscore the urgent need for a coordinated global response to address the public health and ecological concerns posed by PFAS contamination.
Bibliography
"Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Perfluorochemical Serum Sampling. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1 Apr. 2013, www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/pha/Decatur/Perfluorochemical_Serum%20Sampling.pdf."
United Nations Environment Programme. "Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)." UNEP, https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/chemicals-waste/what-we-do/persistent-organic-pollutants/and-polyfluoroalkyl.
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