Perfluoroalkyl Chemicals and Neurological Disorders: From Exposure to Preventive Interventions

Abstract

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are the member of that class of compounds which includes at least one fluorine atom in their structure, are being used in various industrial and consumer products due to their unique chemical properties. Perfluorooctanoic sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are the most important and well-known components among PFAS. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exert various kinds of effects on living organisms, but the most serious ones are the metabolic effects. However, PFAS are inert metabolically itself, but they interfere with endogenous metabolic pathways and reactions, and indirectly affect the metabolism of the body. Unluckily, there are many other PFAS to those humans are exposed throughout their life which not only imparts harmful effects on adults but also in whole life. It has been quantified that PFAS are present in amniotic fluid, fetal tissue, breastmilk, lung, heart, umbilical cord, and brain, blood, and placenta which indicates PFAS exposure in infants from the very start of life. PFAS exposure to Nematodes for 72 h shows the evidence of neuropathology during the inspection of GABAergic, dopaminergic, serotoninergic, and cholinergic neuronal morphologies. Ingestion of mycotoxins causes complex problems to human health. Physio-chemical processing aimed to destroy and mineralize contaminants into carbon dioxide and water or less toxic products.