PFAS compounds have carbon-fluorine bonds, one of the strongest in chemistry.
BY The Conversation4 minute read These synthetic compounds, commonly used in consumer products and industrial applications for their water- and grease-resistant properties, are now found practically everywhere in the environment. While many chemicals will degrade relatively quickly after they're disposed of, PFAS can stick around for up to 1,000 years. This durability is great for their use in firefighting foams, nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, and even food packaging. However, their resilience means that they persist in soil, water, and even living organisms. They can accumulate over time and affect the health of both ecosystems and humans. Subscribe to the Compass newsletter. Fast Company's trending stories delivered to you daily Privacy Policy | Fast Company Newsletters Some initial research has shown potential links between PFAS exposure and various health issues—including cancers, immune system suppression and hormone disruption. These concerns have led scientists to search for effective ways to break down these stubborn chemicals. We're a team of researchers who developed a chemical system that uses light to break down bonds between carbon and fluorine atoms. These strong chemical bonds help PFAS resist degradation. We published this work in Nature in November 2024, and we hope this technique could help address the widespread contamination these substances cause. Why PFAS compounds are so hard to break down These bonds make PFAS incredibly stable. They resist the degradation processes that usually break down industrial chemicals—including hydrolysis, oxidation, and microbial breakdown. Conventional water treatment methods can remove PFAS from water, but these processes merely concentrate the contaminants instead of destroying them. The resulting PFAS-laden materials are typically sent to landfills. Once disposed of, they can still leach back into the environment. The current methods for breaking carbon-fluorine bonds…