Why the PFAS Treatment Market is a Growing Opportunity for Investors, Industry, and the Planet
PFAS are everywhere: Not only all over the news but also in your drinking water, your cookware, and even the air we breathe. The abbreviation stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which have quietly become one of the biggest environmental challenges of our time. Often called “forever chemicals”, they resist breaking down and can accumulate in people and ecosystems alike.
But what exactly are they? Where do they come from? And why do they matter so much?
Let’s take a closer look!
What Are PFAS?
PFAS are a large group of man-made chemicals used since the mid-20th century to make products that repel water, grease, and stains. They owe their resilience to an almost unbreakable carbon-fluorine bond, one of the strongest in chemistry.
That stability made PFAS incredibly useful in everything from non-stick pans and food packaging to firefighting foams and waterproof textiles. It also made them nearly impossible to destroy. Because they don’t degrade naturally, PFAS linger for decades. In the environment, in wildlife, and in us. That’s why scientists call them forever chemicals.
The Most Common PFAS
Not all PFAS are the same, but a few are especially widespread and well studied:
Each of these has shown the same pattern: widespread use, long-term persistence, and concerning health links.
Where Do PFAS Come From?
PFAS pollution stems from both industrial and everyday sources. Major contributors include:
Once released, PFAS can travel through air and water, leach into groundwater, and spread across ecosystems. Because traditional treatment plants aren’t built to capture them, they often become redistribution points rather than containment barriers.
How Widespread Is PFAS Contamination?
PFAS have been detected in more than 75 countries, and scientists have found traces even in the Arctic. This is more than proof that these chemicals travel long distances through the atmosphere and water currents. They show up in:
In short: PFAS pollution knows no borders. It affects urban centers and remote landscapes alike.
Health Impacts of PFAS
Research continues to uncover the ways PFAS interact with the body. Even at low concentrations, long-term exposure can have serious effects. Studies have linked PFAS to:
Pregnant women and children are especially vulnerable, as PFAS can cross the placenta and enter breast milk. Because the chemicals accumulate over time, even small daily exposures can add up.
Why PFAS Are So Difficult to Remove
The same chemistry that made PFAS so useful also makes them a nightmare to eliminate. Their strong carbon-fluorine bonds resist heat, microbes, and most natural degradation processes.
Traditional water treatments (like sand filtration or simple chemical oxidation) barely touch them. More advanced methods such as activated carbon, ion exchange resins, and membrane filtration can capture PFAS, but complete destruction remains technically and financially challenging. Emerging techniques like electrochemical oxidation and thermal destruction show promise, but are still developing.
What Can Be Done?
The global scientific and regulatory community is now working toward comprehensive PFAS mitigation, combining prevention, monitoring, and remediation. Key steps include:
While no single solution can erase decades of contamination, coordinated action can prevent future harm and reduce exposure for generations to come.
Further Reading:
- PFAS: forever chemicals—persistent, bioaccumulative and mobile. Reviewing the status and the need for their phase-out and remediation of contaminated sites. Brunn, et al., Environmental Sciences Europe, Vol. 35, Article 20, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-023-00721-8
- Comprehensive analysis of PFAS presence from environment to plate. Dimitrakopoulou, et al., npj Science of Food, Volume 8, Article 80, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-024-00319-1
- Environmental impacts, exposure pathways, and health effects of PFOA and PFOS. Wee, et al., Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, Volume 267, 115663, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115663
