Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a broad class of synthetic organofluorine compounds characterized by carbon chains that are fully or partially fluorinated, conferring exceptional thermal, chemical, and surfactant stability. As a research topic, PFAS encompasses their environmental persistence, bioaccumulation, complex transport and transformation pathways, and emerging toxicological profiles, including interactions with lipid metabolism, endocrine signaling, and immune function. Investigations address analytical challenges in ultra-trace detection, structural diversity (e.g., legacy vs. replacement PFAS), mixture effects, and the development of remediation technologies and regulatory frameworks, making PFAS a central focus in environmental chemistry, exposure science, and risk assessment.
When we talk about the health effects of PFAS, we commonly think about any physical effects on the body.
Environment
Nov 19, 2025
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PFAS—short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances—are currently the subject of numerous discussions and legislative proposals. Many of these so-called "forever chemicals" are harmful to human health and the environment. ...
Environment
Nov 18, 2025
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The EU is considering introducing a blanket ban on the man-made chemicals called PFAS because of the risks they pose. Researchers have now found that these substances can even alter the genes of birds before they hatch.
Plants & Animals
Nov 11, 2025
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Increasing the surface area when plasma and water interact could help scale up a technology that destroys contaminants such as PFAS, detergents and microbial contaminants in drinking water, new research from the University ...
Plasma Physics
Nov 10, 2025
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In the dense forests of northwestern Pennsylvania, hundreds of thousands of retired oil and gas wells—some dating back to the mid-1800s, long before modern construction standards—dot the landscape, according to geochemists ...
Earth Sciences
Nov 7, 2025
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182
A new study led by researchers at the University of Hawaii (UH) at Mānoa published in Nature Communications is the first of its kind to show that waste discharged from deep-sea mining operations in the Pacific's biodiverse ...
Plants & Animals
Nov 6, 2025
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50
A paper published in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, finds high quantities of toxic "forever" chemicals in sea otters recovered off the Pacific Ocean. The paper is titled "Concentrations of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl ...
Environment
Nov 4, 2025
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New research has shown for the first time that Australian marsupials are contaminated with synthetic "forever chemicals," which are linked to significant health impacts on other animals and humans.
Environment
Nov 1, 2025
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In a new study appearing in Environmental Science and Technology, researchers found high levels of ultrashort-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in blood samples taken from Wilmington, N.C. residents between ...
Environment
Oct 27, 2025
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It's a name many people have trouble pronouncing, but these synthetic chemicals have been used in everything from fast-food packaging to nonstick cookware, clothing, household cleaning products and even firefighting foam.
Environment
Oct 24, 2025
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