4. The problem of eternal pollutants

4.1 PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkylated)

They represent a vast family of highly persistent chemical substances, comprising several thousand artificial chemical compounds used for their grease-, water- and stain-resistant properties in products such as non-stick cookware, food packaging and waterproof clothing, as well as fire-fighting foams, refrigerant gases, cosmetics and plant protection products... The very many PFAS used since the 50s have one thing in common: they are persistent in the environment due to the strength of the carbon-fluorine bonds they contain. PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) and PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), whose use has been severely restricted internationally since 2009 and 2020 respectively, are still frequently measured in the environment. Moreover, their...