Researchers have developed an approach to break down a class of long-lasting chemicals called “Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFASs”. They say that it is easier and cheaper than the harsh methods currently used.
- New research, from scientists at Northwestern University, US claims to have done the “seemingly impossible” and destroyed PFAS using low temperature and cheap products.
- The research team, led by Brittany Trang, identified a new mechanism to break down the PFAS by using a common chemical called sodium hydroxide – which is used to make household products like soap or painkillers.
About Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFASs
- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFASs are a large, complex group of manufactured chemicals that are ingredients in various everyday products.
- For example, they are used to keep food from sticking to packaging or cookware, make clothes and carpets resistant to stains, and create firefighting foam that is more effective.
- PFAS are used in industries such as aerospace, automotive, construction, and electronics.
- PFASs, are widely used in products such as firefighting foams, waterproof clothes and nonstick cookware.
- Dubbed ‘forever chemicals’ because they don’t break down under typical environmental conditions, PFASs accumulate in soil and water and can persist in the human body once ingested.
- A 2015 study found PFASs in the blood of 97% of Americans, and scientists have linked them to conditions including thyroid disease, high cholesterol and cancer.
- PFASs can be removed from water, but disposing of these chemicals has proved challenging. When buried in landfill, PFASs leach into the surrounding environment, risking contamination of soil and groundwater.
- Methods to dispose of PFASs typically rely on expensive and harsh treatments, some of which require high pressures and temperatures above 1,000 °C. PFASs owe their durability to a series of carbon-fluorine bonds, which are among nature’s strongest chemical bonds.
As per the United States Environment Protection Agency, exposure to certain levels of PFAS may lead to:
- Reproductive effects such as decreased fertility or increased high blood pressure in pregnant women.
- Developmental effects or delays in children, including low birth weight, accelerated puberty, bone variations, or behavioral changes.
- Increased risk of some cancers, including prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers.
- Reduced ability of the body’s immune system to fight infections, including reduced vaccine response.
- Interference with the body’s natural hormones.
- Increased cholesterol levels and/or risk of obesity.
(Sources: Nature and EPA)
