Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances: An Overview of the Health Effects on Human Body

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are among the persistent organic pollutants, which are characterized by persistence in the environment, high mobility and their adverse impact not only on the ecosystem, but also on human health. The aim of this study is to describe possible sources of exposure to PFAS, their presence in various human matrices, analytical methods for determining PFAS in different biological matrices using various pretreatment techniques for complex samples, as well as adverse health risks associated with PFAS exposure. The most significant health effects associated with PFAS exposure include lipid disorders, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorders, fertility, cancer, obesity, autism, neurodevelopments, cardiovascular diseases, kidney and liver disorders, etc. It is of utmost importance to monitor PFAS exposure, predict their toxicity, and effective strategies to mitigate potential effects on human health. Therefore, sufficiently sensitive analytical methods, such as liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry are needed.