Unveiling the emerging concern of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and their potential impacts on estuarine ecosystems

Amit Hasan Anik; Md Samium Basir; Maisha Binte Sultan; Mahbub Alam; Md Mostafizur Rahman; Shafi M Tareq

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117554

Unveiling the emerging concern of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and their potential impacts on estuarine ecosystems

Mar Pollut Bull. 2025 Jan 20:212:117554. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117554. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Amit Hasan Anik¹, Md Samium Basir², Maisha Binte Sultan², Mahbub Alam³, Md Mostafizur Rahman⁴, Shafi M Tareq⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Environmental Science, Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), Dhaka 1216, Bangladesh. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Environmental Science, Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), Dhaka 1216, Bangladesh.
³ Department of Environmental Science, Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), Dhaka 1216, Bangladesh; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States.
⁴ Department of Environmental Science, Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), Dhaka 1216, Bangladesh; Laboratory of Environmental Health and Ecotoxicology, Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka 1342, Bangladesh. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ Department of Environmental Science, Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), Dhaka 1216, Bangladesh; Hydrobiogeochemistry and Pollution Control Laboratory, Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka 1342, Bangladesh. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 39837172
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117554

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become ubiquitous chemicals that pose potentially serious threats to both human health and the integrity of the ecosystem. This review compiles current knowledge on PFAS contamination in estuaries, focusing on sources, abundance, distribution, fate, and toxic mechanisms. It also addresses the health risks associated with these compounds and identifies research gaps, offering recommendations for future studies. Estuaries are essential for maintaining biodiversity and serve as protective natural buffers against pollution flowing from land to sea. However, PFAS, known for their persistence and bioaccumulation potential, are detected in estuarine waters, sediments, and biota worldwide, with varying concentrations based on geographic locations and environmental matrices. Sources of PFAS in estuaries include routine items like nonstick kitchenware, industrial emissions, landfill sites, civilian and military airfields, and runoff from firefighting activities. The fate of PFAS in estuarine ecosystems is influenced by hydrology, biogeochemical interactions, and proximity to pollution sources.

Keywords: Emerging contaminants; Forever chemicals; Human health risks, water pollution; Toxic mechanisms.

Publication types

Review