Abstract:
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
are a class of thousands of man-made
chemicals with a partially or fully fluorinated
carbon chain. Developed in 1940s, these
amphiphilic compounds, with a hydrophilic
head and a hydrophobic tail, have unique
properties to repel oil, water and grease and
have excellent chemical, biological and
thermalstability due to strong C-F bond (105.4
kcal/mol).1 Thus, they have well-known uses
in a variety of consumer and industrial
products namely, waterproof clothing, nonstick cookware,food packaging, personal care
products, electronics, stain-repellent carpets,
lubricants, surface coatings and firefighting
foams.2 Due to their ubiquitous use and
persistence, these highly mobile3 forever
chemicals have been detected across
environmental media and evenin rain water,4
indoor spaces,5 food,6 human blood7 and
breast milk8
. Owing to their health and
environmental concerns, and analytical
improvements, there has been increased
attention towards regulating, remediating,
phasing-out, and substituting these
Chemicals of High Concern (CoHC). Though
PFAS are not manufactured in New Zealand,
recent studies have found their occurrence in
local common dolphins9 and urban waters10.
This presentation aims to highlight the
occurrence of PFAS in Aotearoa, focusing on
contaminated sites and results from PFAS in
NZ household dust samples. Findings from
adsorption studies conducted on newly
synthesized sorbents for short and ultra-short
chain PFAS removal from aqueous media will
also be discussed. The current state of
knowledge on emergence, distribution,
remediation, and safe-by-design
replacements to PFAS in Aotearoa will help
raise awareness for this next global public
health emergency.