A review on the impacts of fluorinated organic additives in lithium battery industry—an emerging source of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) industry is expanding rapidly in the context of addressing the challenge of climate change and energy crisis. As a technology-intensive product, large number of new synthetic chemicals are applied in LIBs production. Organic fluorine additives are added in multiple components of LIBs, many of these additives are novel per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (with fully fluorinated methyl or methylene carbon atom), here, in this work we referred to this kind of compounds as LIB-PFAS. LIB-PFAS may cause high exposure to personnel in contact with LIBs materials during production and disposal processes, thus posing potential health risks to these occupational workers. The general population can be exposed to LIB-PFAS when they are released into the surrounding air, soil, and water. In order to assess potential health risks associated with LIB-PFAS, this review systematically summarizes the chemical structures, analytical methods, possible emission routes and human exposure pathways, their bioaccumulation, distribution, and elimination behaviors in humans, and existing toxicity data of LIB-PFAS. In particular, the screening and identification methods for 57 LIB-PFAS are discussed, as well as the investigation of emission processes and exposure risks during the manufacturing and disposal of LIB. Although the available scientific data is still limited, this review provide an insightful view and novel perspective for further research on the occupational and environmental health impacts of LIB-PFAS.