Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)

"Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large class of thousands of synthetic chemicals that are used throughout society. However, they are increasingly detected as environmental pollutants and some are linked to negative effects on human health.

They all contain carbon-fluorine bonds, which are one of the strongest chemical bonds in organic chemistry. This means that they resist degradation when used and also in the environment. Most PFAS are also easily transported in the environment covering long distances away from the source of their release.

PFAS have been frequently observed to contaminate groundwater, surface water and soil. Cleaning up polluted sites is technically difficult and costly. If releases continue, they will continue to accumulate in the environment, drinking water and food." (ECHA 2025)

Sources

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). (2025). Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) - ECHA. https://echa.europa.eu/hot-topics/perfluoroalkyl-chemicals-pfas

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Kabari Sam

Senior Lecturer at University of Portsmouth UK

Dr. Kabari Sam is a Senior Lecturer and Researcher in Environmental Systems at the University of Portsmouth, where he leads both the BSc Environmental Science and BSc Marine Environmental Science programmes. A chartered environmentalist and fellow of the Higher Education Academy, his teaching spans critical areas such as groundwater protection, contaminated land remediation, blue carbon and coastal management, and climate change governance.