Science Alert August 5, 2022
An international team of researchers (Sweden, Switzerland) hypothesized that environmental contamination by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) defines a separate planetary boundary and that this boundary has been exceeded. They tested the hypothesis by comparing the levels of four selected perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in various global environmental media (i.e., rainwater, soils, and surface waters) with recently proposed guideline levels. On the basis of the test, the researchers concluded that (1) levels of PFOA and PFOS in rainwater often greatly exceed US EPA Lifetime Drinking Water Health Advisory levels and the sum of the four PFAAs (ÎŁ4 PFAS) in rainwater is often above Danish drinking water limit values; (2) levels of PFOS in rainwater are often above Environmental Quality Standard for Inland European Union Surface Water; and (3) atmospheric deposition also leads to global soils being ubiquitously contaminated and to be often above proposed Dutch guideline values. The researchers concluded that the global spread of these four PFAAs has led to the planetary boundary for chemical pollution being exceeded. Levels of PFAAs in atmospheric deposition are especially poorly reversible because of the high persistence of PFAAs and their ability to continuously cycle in the hydrosphere, including on sea spray aerosols emitted from the oceans. According to the researchers it is vitally important that PFAS uses, and emissions are rapidly restricted…read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLEÂ
Abstract. Credit: Environ. Sci. Technol. 2022, XXXX, XXX, XXX-XXX, August 2, 2022Â