PFAS Complicate Potable Reuse and Advanced Treatment

Abstract

P er-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of man-made chemicals used in a variety of industries and consumer products, often for their water-, oil-, and stain-resistant properties. Common PFAS uses are food packaging, nonstick surfaces in cooking pans and pots, and fire-resistant coatings for carpets or clothing, among many others. PFAS manufacturing facilities, as well as airports and military installations using firefighting foams (which contain PFAS), are significant PFAS sources in the environment. However, most human PFAS exposure is through diet, according to Sunderland et al. (2019). This means a possible nonindustrial source of PFAS in municipal wastewater is human excretion.