Sustainable remediation strategies for emerging PFAS contaminants in water

Abstract

At present, the decline in drinking water quality may pose risks to human health. Various types of organic as well as inorganic contaminants in drinking water are reported globally. Among emerging organic contaminants, poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been identified in water as major concerns for humans due to their toxic health effects. Anthropogenic activities are considered the dominant source of PFAS addition in the hydrosphere. PFAS toxicities are largely chronic in nature, as they may be carcinogenic and can lead to central nervous system disorders and reproductive problems. This review provides a critical discussion of the different remediation techniques for PFAS, such as chemical redox reaction, adsorption, electrochemical treatment, bioremediation, membrane filtration, and the treatment-train approach. Despite these techniques, extensive future research is required to develop better techniques for PFAS remediation.