Environmental behavior and human health risks of PFAS: occurrence, toxicity, and the state-of-the-art removal approaches

Abstract Fluorinated compounds, including poly- and per-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are characterized by complex behavior, environmental persistence, and resistance to degradation. These thermally stable compounds repel both oil and water. Concerns are mounting over their bioaccumulation in humans and other organisms, given their associated health risks such as endocrine disruption, immune suppression, obesity, elevated cholesterol levels, and cancer. Low concentrations of PFAS detected in drinking water present a potential human exposure pathway. This review addresses the occurrence and exposure pathways of