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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals known for their excellent persistence and surface activity. PFAS can be readily transported through waterways into the ocean, which serves as their primary global sink. This review summarizes recent studies on PFAS in the marine environment and outlines some key directions for future research. Certain PFAS may pose significant risks to human health through seafood consumption. Furthermore, marine predators such as cetaceans may be at high risk of PFAS exposure due to the biomagnification of PFAS in marine food webs. The ban on legacy PFAS has led to a dramatic increase in detecting various emerging PFAS. However, potential risks associated with these emerging PFAS remain largely underexplored. This review highlights critical research needs: tracing ultra-short-chain PFAS in the marine environment, establishing environmental quality standards to protect marine ecosystems and human health, and investigating toxicological effects and mechanisms of emerging PFAS.
Wang et al. (Fri,) studied this question.