Gautam, Rajneesh
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Abstract
Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances are durable synthetic organofluorines, and their toxicity has led to a worldwide environmental and public health dilemma. While their ubiquitous presence in air, water, food, and human serum is well documented, there are significant inequalities in how these substances are monitored, regulated, and managed, especially in developing areas where systems are inadequate or nonexistent. Current review underlines how technical deficiencies, poor governance, and socioeconomic barriers escalate PFAS risks throughout the Global South. This review covers remediation technologies such as adsorption, membrane separation, advanced oxidation, plasma treatment, and biochar based solutions, highlighting their potential and their challenges. Bridging data and treatment gaps will necessitate region-specific fate-and-transport models, open-access monitoring, and AI/ML driven predictive tools for flexible solutions. International binding agreements, technology transfer, and polluter pays strategies are essential. The management of PFAS necessitates a global approach that incorporates interdisciplinary methods and emphasizes justice-oriented solutions.
Keywords
Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); Health risk; Remediation technologies; Policy and governance
Published in
Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health
2026, volume: 50, article number: 100705
Publisher: ELSEVIER
SLU Authors
UKÄ Subject classification
Environmental Sciences
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coesh.2026.100705
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/146298