PFAS are incredibly versatile chemicals. These fluorine-rich organic compounds are what make raindrops effortlessly glide off our outdoor jackets. They serve as the non-stick layer on food packaging paper and are crucial components in fire-extinguisher foams and the safety equipment used by firefigh
ters. Since their introduction in the 1940s, the range and scope of products incorporating PFAS have expanded significantly. However, this widespread use is where concerns arise. Due to their stable nature and lack of natural degradation pathways, these durable chemicals persistently accumulate in our environment, posing significant problems for both human health and our surroundings. Today, traces of PFAS can be found globally: from water, air, and soil to plants and animals. And inevitably, they find their way into humans as well. Just how much of a health risk these chemicals pose is still not clear. Initial laboratory animal studies have shown that PFAS may impair reproductive health. What is clear is that these synthetic compounds do not belong in the natural environment and certainly not in living organisms. It, therefore, makes sense to find ways to try and reduce PFAS contamination levels in the environment. But PFAS remediation is both complex and challenging, and the processes used can themselves have a detrimental impact on the environment and the climate. And before they can be removed, the PFAS have to be detected. Detection is not made any easier by the fact that only small quantities of PFAS are required for a large effect (e.g. the ultra-thin coatings in food packaging). Conventionally, PFAS have been removed…