Current per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) research points to a growing threat in animals

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made chemicals that are colorless, odorless, and oil and water repellent. Their widespread use in manufacturing and industrial processes has resulted in environmental contamination found across the world. Exposure to PFAS can lead to a variety of adverse human health outcomes such as increased cholesterol, liver damage, immune suppression, and disruption of endocrine and reproductive systems. Exposure to this family of chemicals is considered a significant public health threat. Though nearly every human and animal around the world has been exposed, most of what is known regarding health effects and toxicological processes of PFAS in animals stems from human epidemiological and laboratory animal studies. Discoveries of PFAS contamination on dairy farms and concerns for companion animals have increased interest in PFAS research related to our veterinary patients. In the limited studies published to date, PFAS has been demonstrated in serum, liver, kidneys, and milk of production animals and has been linked to changes in liver enzymes, cholesterol levels, and thyroid hormones in dogs and cats. This is further addressed in the companion Currents in One Health by Brake et al, AJVR, April 2023. There is a gap in understanding the routes of exposure, absorption of PFAS, and adverse health effects among our veterinary patients. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current literature on PFAS in animals and discuss the implications for our veterinary patients.

PFAS in Nigeria: Identifying data gaps that hinder assessments of ecotoxicological and human health impacts

“…The adverse health effects associated with PFAS exposure have been extensively studied, with research linking PFAS exposure to detrimental health outcomes, including increased cholesterol, liver damage, immune suppression, and disruption of endocrine and reproductive systems [ 90 ]. Epidemiological studies provide a broader perspective on the potential health outcomes associated with PFAS exposure.…”

Fluoride recovery in degradable fluorinated polyesters

“…8,9 This has caused PFAS to be found everywhere from in household pets to Antarctic ice. 10,11 For this reason, the design of future fluoropolymers should include viable recycling methods which allow for chemical recyclability so that the materials can be transformed into chemicals that can be easily disposed of, used in other industries or be incorporated into a circular polymer economy; [12][13][14] these considerations must already be taken into account when designing new polymer structures. The fluorine in fluoropolymers is initially mined as fluorite (CaF 2 ) and converted to HF which is then used for the synthesis of a wide range of fluorinated materials (see Fig.…”