Environmental Distribution, Risk, and Regulatory Control of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in the textile and apparel industry

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a class of fluorinated compounds widely used in the textile and apparel industry as surfactants and finishing auxiliaries, and they ultimately enter the environment. Therefore, their environmental behavior, pollution characteristics, and associated health risks have attracted widespread concern. This paper elaborates on the classification and structural characteristics of PFASs, and analyzes their hazards to human health and ecological systems. Besides, the latest regulatory requirements issued by major countries and regions worldwide, as well as future research directions and control strategies for PFASs, are systematically summarized, aiming to provide guidance for PFASs pollution management in the textile and apparel industry.