The problem of finding and quantifying per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds in the atmosphere—also known as PFAS dark matter—has plagued scientists for decades. These materials, which comprise thousands of organofluorine compounds, used in a wide range of goods, from cosmetics to food packaging. There hasn’t been much attention paid to PFAS in the air, despite substantial study on their occurrence in soil and water. Recent discoveries made by a York University atmospheric chemistry research team have revealed a novel technique for quantifying hitherto unrecognized airborne PFAS, filling in a vital knowledge vacuum about these powerful greenhouse gases.

The Difficulty of Environmental PFAS Measuring

The term “forever chemicals” refers to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) because of their special chemical structure, which consists of carbon-fluorine linkages that decompose in the environment. The absence of reliable methods has hindered the capacity to precisely quantify these substances in the environment. As a result, significant levels of gaseous fluorine—a crucial sign of the presence of PFAS—have not reported. Concerns raised by this neglect over the effects on human exposure to these compounds, as well as the health of the ecosystem and climate change.

The Revolutionary Approach: Assessing Gaseous Fluorine

In order to determine the amount of unmeasured PFAS in the environment, York University researchers created a technique to test for gaseous fluorine, which they just published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters. The group was able to measure gaseous fluorine in both laboratory and outdoor situations by modifying an existing method for measuring total gaseous chlorine. The findings were startling: according to conventional measurement techniques, 65–99% of the fluorine in the lab atmosphere was not identified, whereas outside tests showed that roughly 50% of it was.

Findings from the Study

The importance of these results was stressed by York University atmospheric chemist and study senior author Professor Cora Young. She said, “I expected fluorine to be missing, but I didn’t expect it to be so much.” Previously, the only way to determine the amount of fluorinated chemicals in the environment was to evaluate each of the approximately 4,700 PFAS pollutants individually. However, the team’s new technique makes this assessment more complete. The researchers have offered a more straightforward and efficient method to determine the existence of these dangerous compounds by concentrating on gaseous fluorine.

Understanding the PFAS Sources

Significant amounts of PFAS that had gone undiscovered before have been found, highlighting a serious study void on their origins and possible effects on the environment and human health. Agrochemicals, paint, dental floss, food packaging, and paint all produce gaseous fluorine as a byproduct. According to Young, the lack of reliable testing methods has been a major factor in the lack of attention paid to airborne PFAS.  

Lead author of the work and PhD candidate in Young’s lab RenXi Ye said that “we didn’t know how to do it, but now we do.” RenXi Ye clarified that “people hadn’t thought that this might be important.” With this development, more research into the causes of PFAS emissions and their possible effects on the ecosystem is now possible.

Missing Data’s Consequences for Airborne PFAS

The question of whether or not we should be concerned arises in light of the researchers’ indication that a substantial amount of airborne PFAS has gone undiscovered. Professor Young emphasized that it is too early to assess the precise consequences of gaseous fluorine emissions on human health or the environment, despite the fact that public fear over PFAS exposure has increased. She clarified, “Any fluorinated gas is a potent greenhouse gas.” The effect is contingent upon the duration of these gases’ atmospheric persistence and the potential consequences of breathing them.

Young stated that more research is necessary in this area even though there isn’t any immediate need to be concerned because it might have significant effects on public health and environmental policy. Developing methods to reduce the consequences of gaseous fluorine emissions will require an understanding of their range and sources.

PFAS Contamination in Discreet Environments

The York University team has looked into PFAS contamination in unexpected places, such the Arctic, in addition to their atmospheric studies. In a different investigation, Daniel Persaud, a PhD candidate at York, examined perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), discovered in ice cores taken from Ellesmere Island in Nunavut. According to this study’s analysis of data from 1967 to 2016, PFAS have been building up in Arctic ice for many years.

Unexpected Results of Ice Core Research

Young pointed out that the longest worldwide record for PFSAs and the longest deposition record of PFCAs in the Arctic found in the ice core data. She clarified, “You’re seeing that it has been accumulating for a very long time because the measurement covers the longest time period.” The results seem unexpected, especially the early ice core sections that showed higher-than-expected PFAS levels. This buildup, probably started earlier than scientists had thought, and it might have been related to military operations in the Arctic in the late 20th century.

Extended-Distance Transport of PFAS

The ice core research demonstrated how atmospheric processes can carry PFAS chemicals over great distances. The study showed that air transport and the oxidation of volatile precursors were the main processes leading to the formation of the majority of PFAAs found in the ice cores. More ice core sample collection is becoming more and more urgent as the Arctic permafrost melts. Understanding the temporal trends of PFAS buildup and locating possible sources depend heavily on these samples.

Conclusion

The crucial need for continued study in this field highlights the recent developments in measuring airborne PFAS and the surprising results from ice-core studies. For the purpose of creating environmental regulations that work and safeguard public health, it is crucial to comprehend the entire extent of PFAS pollution, especially airborne fluorine. The sources of these compounds and their long-term effects on the environment and human health need to address as the research develops.

Although it is still too early to make firm judgments on the impacts of airborne PFAS, the recently created measurement methods open the door to a greater comprehension of these persistent chemicals and their global implications. Through more investigation, scientists intend to understand the nuances of PFAS emissions and create plans to reduce the dangers they pose to the environment and public health.