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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic fluorinated compounds. Today more than 4’700 PFAS molecules are known. These chemicals have a high resistance and physical stability. They repel water, dirt, and grease. Due to these properties they are used in a wide range of products, from ski-wax and waterproof textiles to fire extinguishers and food packaging. PFAS are the most persistent synthetic chemicals. They do not occur in nature, and they hardly degrade in nature. Therefore they are called “Forever Chemicals”. The number of PFAS detections in the environment and in various organisms worldwide is increasing. The recognition of their bioaccumulative properties, their high mobility and their adverse effects on biological systems has led and is still leading to a regulation of multiple PFAS molecules. The response of the industry was the introduction of other PFAS as substitutes, which are now themselves increasingly detected in the environment. Worrying is that the list of negative health effects from an exposure to PFAS is becoming longer every year.
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The first quantitative investigation of compounds generated from PFAS, PFAS-containing aqueous film-forming foams and commercial fluorosurfactants in pyrolytic processes
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129313
