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.
New research has found young birds living near contaminated industrial and military sites in suburban Melbourne carry especially high concentrations of PFAS, so-called "forever chemicals."
Environment
Jul 7, 2026
0
13
As cities across the nation and the globe increasingly turn to advanced water purification systems to expand their drinking water supplies, researchers at Texas A&M University have identified a critical environmental safety ...
Environment
Jul 6, 2026
0
19
In May, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced plans to double the capacity of Canada's electricity grid by 2050, using natural gas in the name of "powering Canada strong." Almost all Canadian natural gas these days is derived ...
Environment
Jul 4, 2026
0
15
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of synthetic chemicals widely used in industrial processes and consumer products because of their resistance to heat, water and oil. However, these same properties ...
Environment
Jul 1, 2026
0
10
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is one of the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of substances within a broader universe of organofluorine compounds. PFOA has potential adverse effects on human health and environmental ...
Earth Sciences
Jul 1, 2026
0
4
A new study from the Honduran Mosquitia shows how simple, noninvasive technology can help solve one of the most common challenges in wildlife conservation: identifying the species actually responsible for crop damage. The ...
Ecology
Jun 29, 2026
0
16
University of Notre Dame researchers analyzed 42 years of biological records from the Great Lakes, unveiling how per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), or "forever chemicals," have moved across the region, contaminating ...
Environment
Jun 18, 2026
0
13
Whales and dolphins inhabit some of the largest and seemingly most pristine environments on Earth, from tropical coastlines to Antarctic waters. Yet even they cannot escape PFAS—persistent "forever chemicals" that leak from ...
Ecology
Jun 17, 2026
0
7
A new study has found that plants may reveal recent PFAS contamination linked to airborne deposition that can go undetected in soil analyses. Conducted in agricultural fields near the conflict zone in southern Israel, the ...
Ecology
Jun 11, 2026
0
23
To the scientists and ecologists working to save them, Australia's Euastacus crayfish species are fascinating, living relics from a time long ago.
Plants & Animals
Jun 10, 2026
0
9
