Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (ET&C) has published a special issue dedicated to PFAS* with 32 articles, providing a valuable summarization of risk assessment approaches for PFAS. This compilation of scientific research publications on the risks associated with PFAS chemicals is an important resource for researchers, environmentalists, environmental law attorneys, educators, public education organizations, environmental managers and regulatory bodies (to set appropriate drinking water standards and health advisory guidelines).
The published research illustrates that PFAS are ubiquitous and raise more questions than answers about their potential toxicity to humans and wildlife. The articles in the issue report that PFAS were found near defense bases, urban environments, treatment plants and waste disposal sites but also in remote, less inhabited areas. PFAS were detected in breeding kittiwakes in Svalbard, Norway, and ducks in Australian estuaries. They were found in hens’ eggs, soil, tadpoles, zebrafish, house crickets; the list goes on. The breadth of the published research illustrates that PFAS have dispersed in every medium in the environment (soil, water and wildlife).
The issue illustrates that there are a tremendous number of PFAS substances, and it is a challenge for environmental managers and regulatory bodies to devise an approach to identify, understand and manage them all. The series provided a great review of the state of the science of PFAs risk assessment and also identified data gaps and the work needed to fill them in order to devise an effective approach to manage PFAS.
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*Unsure what all the hype over PFAS is all about? Scroll down and search our blog posts by entering “PFAS” into the search box or get a quick overview here.
Journal Reference: Johnson, Mark, eds., et al. Special Issue: Understanding Environmental Risk from Exposure to Per‐ and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs). Journal of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Vol. 40, Issue 3, pp. C1-539-957. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.4763
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