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Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology pp 99–121Cite as

Environmental and Toxicity Effects of Perfluoroalkylated Substances

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Part of the book series: Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology ((RECT,volume 179))

Summary

The production, use, environmental fate, occurrence, and toxicity of perfluoroalkylated substances have been reviewed. Although only a limited number of essential physicochemical data are available, thus hampering a complete assessment of the environmental fate of PFAS, it has become clear that PFAS behave differently from other nonpolar organic micropollutants. PFAS are present in environmental media in urbanized areas both with and without fluorochemicals production sites. The presence of PFOS at levels above the limit of detection has been demonstrated in almost all organisms sampled in a global survey as well as in both nonexposed and exposed human populations. The acute and chronic ecotoxicity of PFOS, PFOA, and 8:2 FTOH to aquatic organisms is moderate to low. Acute toxicity to rodents is also low. PFOS concentrations in effluents have been reported that approach indicative target values derived from available aquatic toxicity data. PFOA has been found to be weakly carcinogenic. This review shows the importance of the perfluoroalkylated substances for the environment and the necessity to fill the current gaps in knowledge of their environmental fate and effects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental and Toxicological Chemistry, IBED, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 166, 1018 WV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Floris M. Hekster & Pim de Voogt

  2. National Institute for Coastal and Marine Management-RIKZ, P.O. Box 20907, 2500EX, The Hague, The Netherlands

    Remi W. P. M. Laane

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  1. Floris M. Hekster
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  2. Remi W. P. M. Laane
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  3. Pim de Voogt
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Communicated by Pim de Voogt

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Hekster, F.M., Laane, R.W.P.M., de Voogt, P. (2003). Environmental and Toxicity Effects of Perfluoroalkylated Substances. In: Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, vol 179. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-21731-2_4

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