Forever Chemicals (PFAS): Environmental Persistence and Chemical Remediation Strategies

Abstract Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represent a chemically diverse class of anthropogenic fluorinated compounds whose environmental persistence is primarily governed by the extraordinary strength of the carbon–fluorine bond. Their widespread application in industrial processes and consumer products has resulted in global-scale contamination of aquatic systems, soils, atmospheric compartments, and biological tissues. Unlike many conventional pollutants, PFAS exhibit long biological half-lives and strong affinity for serum proteins, contributing to chronic exposure risks. Recent toxicological investigations associate PFAS exposure with immune modulation, endocrine disruption, hepatotoxicity, and certain malignancies. This review critically evaluates the structural characteristics influencing PFAS stability, pathways of environmental distribution, advances in ultra-trace analytical detection, and emerging destructive technologies including electrochemical oxidation, plasma-assisted degradation, and catalytic defluorination. Emphasis is placed on the technological limitations of current treatment systems and the urgent need for scalable mineralization strategies and regulatory harmonization. Future research directions toward sustainable PFAS mitigation are discussed.