304
• Degradation of these complex derivatives results into formation of PFOA, PFOS,
or perfluoro alkanoic acids with longer or shorter perfluorinated alkyl chain; the
tail of which is made of perfluorinated chemicals and cannot be degraded in the
environment and living body [16, 17].
• More complex derivatives of these chemicals are insoluble in lipids and water
but volatile to some extent and their transportation can occur by air from temperate to arctic regions over longer distances [18]. The most common source of
human exposure to PFCs is the utilization of derivatives of fluorotelomer in firefighting foam [18, 19].
Uses of PFASs
PFAS are used in several consumer and industrial goods because of the especial
chemical properties of these chemical compounds, such as the capability to repel oil
as well as water. Norwegian market has been introduced with an enormous variety of
PFASs through industrial usage (such as through paint and firefighting foams) and in
other customer products (e.g., coated paper and textiles). Our current knowledge of
correct compositions of PFASs by using perfluorinated chemicals is inadequate. This
inappropriate knowledge indicates that accurate measurements about the exact exposure to humans are very difficult, furthermore, the amount of waste present in treated
products is also difficult to measure. It is of great concern that these dangerous chemical compounds are now present in the whole global environment [20].
Because of the toxic effects of PFASs, attention has been directed towards their
exposure to humans. Fluorotelomer alcohols, perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids and carboxylic acids were detected in 115 samples taken randomly of different consumer
goods including carpets, textiles (outdoor materials), impregnating and cleaning
agents, sandwich and baking papers, leather samples, and waxes. PFASs are detected
by HPLC-MS/MS, while FTOH are analyzed by GC/CI-MS. A negligible amount
of PFCA and PFSA is present in some consumer goods such as sandwiches and
baking papers and cleaning agents. Whereas some consumer products contain high
level of PFAS such as leather samples (up to about 200 μg/kg PFBA and 120 μg/kg
PFBS), ski waxes (up to about 2000 μg/kg PFOA), outdoor textiles (up to 19 μg/m
2
PFOA), and other baking papers (up to 15 μg/m
2
PFOA). Furthermore, a few samples like leather and carpet samples and some outdoor materials have excess EU
regulatory threshold amount for PFOS (1 μg/m
2
). Products of our daily usage contain a diverse variety of PFASs in different concentrations [21].
Environmental Fate of PFAS
The fate of environmental PFAS describes their transportation, partitioning, and
processes of transformation after the release of these chemicals into the environment. During and after the manufacturing and utilization of PFAS-containing goods,
the waste containing PFASs is released into the aquatic environment.
S. G. Niazi et al.
• Degradation of these complex derivatives results into formation of PFOA, PFOS,
or perfluoro alkanoic acids with longer or shorter perfluorinated alkyl chain; the
tail of which is made of perfluorinated chemicals and cannot be degraded in the
environment and living body [16, 17].
• More complex derivatives of these chemicals are insoluble in lipids and water
but volatile to some extent and their transportation can occur by air from temperate to arctic regions over longer distances [18]. The most common source of
human exposure to PFCs is the utilization of derivatives of fluorotelomer in firefighting foam [18, 19].
Uses of PFASs
PFAS are used in several consumer and industrial goods because of the especial
chemical properties of these chemical compounds, such as the capability to repel oil
as well as water. Norwegian market has been introduced with an enormous variety of
PFASs through industrial usage (such as through paint and firefighting foams) and in
other customer products (e.g., coated paper and textiles). Our current knowledge of
correct compositions of PFASs by using perfluorinated chemicals is inadequate. This
inappropriate knowledge indicates that accurate measurements about the exact exposure to humans are very difficult, furthermore, the amount of waste present in treated
products is also difficult to measure. It is of great concern that these dangerous chemical compounds are now present in the whole global environment [20].
Because of the toxic effects of PFASs, attention has been directed towards their
exposure to humans. Fluorotelomer alcohols, perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids and carboxylic acids were detected in 115 samples taken randomly of different consumer
goods including carpets, textiles (outdoor materials), impregnating and cleaning
agents, sandwich and baking papers, leather samples, and waxes. PFASs are detected
by HPLC-MS/MS, while FTOH are analyzed by GC/CI-MS. A negligible amount
of PFCA and PFSA is present in some consumer goods such as sandwiches and
baking papers and cleaning agents. Whereas some consumer products contain high
level of PFAS such as leather samples (up to about 200 μg/kg PFBA and 120 μg/kg
PFBS), ski waxes (up to about 2000 μg/kg PFOA), outdoor textiles (up to 19 μg/m
2
PFOA), and other baking papers (up to 15 μg/m
2
PFOA). Furthermore, a few samples like leather and carpet samples and some outdoor materials have excess EU
regulatory threshold amount for PFOS (1 μg/m
2
). Products of our daily usage contain a diverse variety of PFASs in different concentrations [21].
Environmental Fate of PFAS
The fate of environmental PFAS describes their transportation, partitioning, and
processes of transformation after the release of these chemicals into the environment. During and after the manufacturing and utilization of PFAS-containing goods,
the waste containing PFASs is released into the aquatic environment.
S. G. Niazi et al.