The overlooked short- and ultrashort-chain poly- and perfluorinated substances: A review

Mohamed Ateia; Amith Maroli; Nishanth Tharayil; Tanju Karanfil

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.12.186

The overlooked short- and ultrashort-chain poly- and perfluorinated substances: A review

Chemosphere. 2019 Apr:220:866-882. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.12.186. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Authors

Mohamed Ateia¹, Amith Maroli¹, Nishanth Tharayil², Tanju Karanfil³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Science, Clemson University, SC 29634, USA.
² Department of Plant & Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, SC 29634, USA.
³ Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Science, Clemson University, SC 29634, USA. Electronic address: tkaranf@clemson.edu.

PMID: 33395808
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.12.186

Abstract

Poly- and perfluorinated substances (PFAS) comprise more than 3000 individual compounds; nevertheless, most studies to date have focused mainly on the fate, transport and remediation of long-chain PFAS (C > 7). The main objective of this article is to provide the first critical review of the peer-reviewed studies on the analytical methods, occurrence, mobility, and treatment for ultra-short-chain PFAS (C = 2-3) and short-chain PFAS (C = 4-7). Previous studies frequently detected ultra-short-chain and short-chain PFAS in various types of aqueous environments including seas, oceans, rivers, surface/urban runoffs, drinking waters, groundwaters, rain/snow, and deep polar seas. Besides, the recent regulations and restrictions on the use of long-chain PFAS has resulted in a significant shift in the industry towards short-chain alternatives. However, our understanding of the environmental fate and remediation of these ultra-short-chain and short-chain PFAS is still fragmentary. We have also covered the handful studies involving the removal of ultra-short and short-chain PFAS and identified the future research needs.

Keywords: Mobility; Occurrence; Poly- and perfluorinated substances; Short-chain; Treatment technologies; Ultra-short-chain.

Publication types

Review