ABSTRACT
Several long-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), such as perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid, have been recognized as persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic. They have been detected globally in the environment, biota, and humans. Short-chain PFAS from these sources are becoming more common since the phasing out of long-chain compounds. The majority of the precursor compounds were found to produce C6 and shorter PFAS upon total oxidizable precursor assay. Research on the physical properties of PFAS was found to be lacking, especially for branched isomers of PFAS. Based on comparison with literature, the authors pointed out that the elimination kinetics of perfluorohexane sulfonate by these animal species is similar to those of PFOS in male rats, mice, monkeys, and humans. Long-chain PFAS had larger bioaccumulation factors than short-chain compounds. E. Gorrochategui investigated the cytotoxicity of PFAS in human placental choriocarcinoma cell line JEG-3.
