Polluants éternels et contamination humaine : état des lieux et enjeux autour des substances per- et polyfluoroalkylées (PFAS)

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), often referred to as “forever pollutants”, represent more than 10,000 molecules belonging to different chemical classes. They are produced artificially and used in everyday products because of their physicochemical characteristics, which give them non-stick, waterproofing or surfactant properties. These molecules are resistant to degradation and persist in the environment and in organisms. The ingestion of contaminated food or drinking water is the main route of human contamination, with limited excretion leading to accumulation in the body. Exposure to specific PFAS is associated with 4 health impacts (dyslipidaemia, low birth weight, hepatic alteration, and impaired response to vaccines). Other toxic effects are also observed such as nephrotoxicity, reproductive toxicity or neurotoxicity, sometimes linked to endocrine disruption.This review provides an overview of what is known about this family of compounds with particular chemical properties. It considers the various sources and routes of contamination, the leakage of these molecules as well as the policies implemented for risk assessment and management.