Tracing PFAS from the environment to the food chain: Human health impacts, in vivo toxicological insights, and detection approaches

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of synthetic chemicals widely used in various industrial and consumer applications and food packaging, owing to thermal stability, durability, and oleophobic properties. However, these same properties contributes in making them persistent environmental contaminants. This review paper highlights the key pathways by which PFAS enter the food chain, including contaminated water, soil, crops, food packaging, and its bioaccumulation in aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Human exposure to PFAS via these routes has resulted in adverse health effects, including endocrine disruption, immunotoxicity, developmental delays, and specific organ damage. In vivo studies have demonstrated the toxicological effects of PFAS in animals, highlighting their ability to induce harmful effects in humans and interfere with metabolic processes. The review also deliberates emerging methods used to detect PFAS in the environment and the human body, which are crucial for risk assessment.