A new global review of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has revealed how the scientific understanding of these “forever chemicals” has advanced from detection to remediation. Published in Water, Air & Soil Pollution, the study brings together findings from more than 200 papers to assess the chemistry, environmental behaviour, and treatment of PFAS in drinking water.
PFAS compounds, prized for their durability and resistance to heat, oil, and water, have become ubiquitous in industrial products and consumer goods. Yet the same stability that makes them useful also makes them exceptionally persistent once released into the environment. Because conventional water treatment systems cannot easily break the carbon–fluorine bond, these chemicals can accumulate in aquifers and persist for decades.
Lead author Dr Syazwani Mohd Asharuddin and her colleagues describe how research priorities have shifted over the past twenty years. Early studies focused on understanding PFAS toxicity and mobility, while current investigations emphasise detection techniques, treatment efficiency, and environmental risk modelling. The authors stress that global awareness and regulation have accelerated only in the last decade, as PFAS have been linked to widespread drinking water contamination.
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What technologies are proving most effective for PFAS removal
The review identifies several classes of technologies currently deployed or under development for PFAS removal from drinking water. These include adsorption, ion exchange, membrane filtration, and advanced oxidation.
Adsorption using granular activated carbon remains the most widely applied method, particularly for long-chain PFAS. However, performance declines for short-chain variants, which are increasingly common in industrial formulations. Ion exchange resins provide stronger selectivity but require regeneration and safe disposal of concentrated waste streams. Membrane-based systems, such as nanofiltration and reverse osmosis, can achieve high removal rates but incur significant energy costs and pose challenges in waste management.
Emerging treatment technologies, such as plasma-based oxidation, photocatalytic degradation, and electrochemical reduction, show promise in breaking the PFAS molecular structure rather than simply concentrating it. While many of these remain at pilot scale, they represent an important shift toward destruction rather than containment.
Asharuddin and her co-authors argue that integrated, multi-stage systems may offer the best performance. Combining adsorption and oxidation, for example, could capture a broader range of PFAS while minimising residual waste.
How monitoring and regulation are catching up globally
The review also highlights how regulatory and monitoring frameworks are beginning to align with advances in treatment technology. Countries such as the United States, Sweden, and Australia have introduced or strengthened national guidelines for PFAS in drinking water, while international agencies are developing shared analytical standards.
Monitoring remains a major challenge. Traditional laboratory-based methods, such as liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS), provide high sensitivity and selectivity but are time-consuming and expensive. The authors note a growing interest in portable and sensor-based detection systems that could provide near real-time monitoring for utilities and environmental agencies.
This evolution from laboratory to field-ready analytics is expected to enhance data consistency, expedite early warning systems, and lower costs for routine compliance monitoring.
Why a system-level approach is needed for PFAS-free water
Asharuddin’s team concludes that progress toward PFAS-free water requires coordinated advances in detection, removal, and regulation. They call for more collaboration between material scientists, environmental engineers, and policymakers to ensure treatment research aligns with real-world operating conditions and regulatory expectations.
“PFAS pollution cannot be addressed by technology alone,” the authors write. “It demands an integrated framework that links monitoring, treatment, and policy into a single management strategy.”
The study also highlights the need for greater attention to short-chain and ether-based PFAS, which evade current removal systems and are increasingly used as substitutes for banned compounds. Addressing these emerging contaminants, the authors note, will be essential for protecting long-term drinking water quality.
This research underscores a growing international consensus: that PFAS removal is both a scientific and governance challenge, requiring innovation, standardisation, and sustained public investment.