“Forever chemicals”: a sticky environmental problem

Highlights

● “Forever chemicals” are being redefined in terms of environmental lifespans.

● Novel degradation technologies offer promising PFAS remediation solutions.

● Global Collaboration in responding to the PFAS crisis is emphasized.

Abstract

The discovery and widespread use of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have exemplified the beneficial role of chemistry in modern life, yet they have also underscored significant environmental and health concerns. Termed “forever chemicals” due to their remarkable persistence, PFAS present formidable challenges in terms of contamination and toxicity. Efforts to address these challenges have led to the development of innovative degradation technologies, such as hydrothermal alkali treatment (HALT), low-temperature mineralization, and mechanochemical degradation, offering promising solutions to PFAS remediation. However, these advancements must be accompanied by robust investment in research, collaboration among stakeholders, and global responsibility to ensure effective management of PFAS contamination and mitigate its adverse impacts on ecosystems and human health.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

PFAS / Degradation technologies / Environmental remediation / Global responsibility

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2022YFC3702102), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51978488) and the Key-Area Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province (China) (No. 2020B0202080001).

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Electronic Supplementary Material

Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-024-1891-5 and is accessible for authorized users.

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