PFAS insights: A review of historical data, environmental applications, health effects, and pollution challenges in Pakistan

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used in different industrial and consumer products due to their high stability and durability. Recently, their application has drawn significant attention from environmentalists due to unchecked discharges of industrial effluents, which have resulted in a substantial rise in their levels in water bodies, rivers, and oceans. Since these environmental pollutants are very stable, therefore, they have long-lasting effects on all flora and fauna, including animals and humans. This review comprehensively analyses the life cycle of these chemicals, their industrial applications, their infiltration in water bodies, and their harmful effects on the human body, particularly on the immune system, endocrine system, renal system, carcinogenic diseases, etc., while considering the prevailing conditions in Pakistan. Industries in developing countries such as Pakistan often release untreated industrial wastewater directly into freshwater bodies due to a lack of government oversight and poor policy enforcement, thus making these effluents primary sources of PFAS in the aquatic resources of Pakistan. While acknowledging the problem, this review paper strongly emphasises the urgent need for extensive research on these emerging contaminants in Pakistan, where present data are limited. The review recommends several measures to address PFAS contamination, including improving research infrastructure, increasing monitoring capacity, strengthening regulatory frameworks, and developing efficient remediation technologies. It also emphasizes the importance of raising public awareness and providing education to promote safer environmental practices and healthier communities. These recommendations aim to improve understanding of different modes of PFAS contamination and their effects on ecosystems and biological systems.