A comprehensive review on the distribution of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances in the environment across Sub-Saharan Africa revealed significant variation in their concentrations

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic chemicals known for their widespread use in various industrial and consumer products. They enter the food chain via contaminated water, air, and soil, resulting in bioaccumulation in plants, fishes, foods, human milk, and blood serum. Here, we critically reviewed the literature published from 2005 to 2021 on the occurrence and distribution of Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluoro-octane sulfonate (PFOS) as the most occurring PFAS in the aquatic environment in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). To our knowledge, this is the first paper to review the status of PFAS in the SSA environment. This review found that almost all matrices studied in SSA regions have been polluted by PFAS with varying concentrations. This information suggests that the levels of PFAS in the environment deserve immediate attention. Furthermore, SSA faces unique challenges in understanding and managing PFAS contamination due to the scarcity of data in specific regions and the need for more administrative guidelines for monitoring PFAS in water. This review provides vital baseline information on the occurrences, distribution and contributing factors for their distribution in the SSA environment for better understanding to protect the environment and public health, and to develop sustainable solutions for the PFAS growing concern.

Keywords

• Perfluorooctanoic acid
• Perfluoro-octane sulfonate
• PFAS
• Surface water
• Sub-Saharan Africa