PFAS pollution threatens ecosystems worldwide

Toxic perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been widely used for decades in textiles, food wrappings, flame retardants, water proofing, offshore industry, and cosmetics and are now ubiquitous in the environment (1). PFAS compounds are extremely resistant to biodegradation and persist for millennia, which complicates their management and cleanup (2). Their toxic properties make them carcinogenic, endocrine disruptive, and immunotoxic (3). In February, in response to PFASs’ threat to ecosystems, biodiversity, food security, and drinking water (4, 5), five EU countries proposed a complete phaseout of PFASs (6). Other countries should ban PFAS use as well.